Many people living with Spina Bifida also have a condition called Hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus means "water on the brain."
Hydrocephalus is a condition that happens when too much cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collects in the brain. CSF is a clear fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord to give protection, nutrients and remove waste.
Too much fluid causes pressure to build and damage the brain. In babies, the pressure and fluid build-up can increase their head size. In older children and adults, the head cannot increase as the bones forming the skull have already fused.
Read our factsheet below to learn more about hydrocephalus and:
- learning development
- eyesight
- seizures
- shunt problems and infections