Water on the brain, also called hydrocephalus, is the result of a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that the excess CSF "puts pressure on the brain, pushing the brain up against the skull and damaging or destroying brain tissue." The National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NINDS) notes that water on the brain affects about one in every 500 children. Multiple factors can contribute to the onset of water on the brain, such as genetics or birth disorders.
Genetics
What causes water on the brain is not fully known, but genetics is thought to be a possible cause. The NINDS states that water on the brain may be due to an inherited abnormality, such as aqueductal stenosis. Aqueductal stenosis results in a narrowing of the aqueduct of Sylvius, which connects the third and fourth ventricles. The ventricles are structures in the brain that hold CSF, and with aqueductal stenosis, the CSF flow between the two ventricles becomes disrupted, resulting in a buildup of CSF in the brain.
Injury During Birth
Certain complications during the delivery can cause water on the brain. The NIH states that one delivery complication is bleeding on the brain, which is a greater problem in premature babies. Injuries to the child's brain during birth, such as subarachnoid hemorrhage, are also possible causes. The NINDS notes that when a person has subarachnoid hemorrhage, CSF cannot leave the ventricles.
Infections
Infections early in the child's life can also result in water on the brain. The NIH notes that infections of the central nervous system (CNS), like meningitis and encephalitis, are possible causes. Both encephalitis and meningitis result in the inflammation of the brain. Meningitis causes the inflammation of the meninges, which covers the brain and spinal cord, and changes the CSF.
Other Causes
The NINDS notes that water on the brain can also be caused by traumatic brain injury and tumors on the brain or spinal cord. The NIH adds that water on the brain is common with myelomeningocele, a birth defect in which the spinal cord does not completely close.
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