Patient's question:
Please doctor, my child is four and a half months old. Today, I noticed some external bulging of the anterior fontanelle. The results of the CT scan at the hospital are as follows: A band-like low-density shadow is visible below the inner plate of the frontal bone. The density of the brain substance, ventricles, and cisterns show no definite abnormalities. The midline is central, the anterior fontanelle is full, and slightly bulging.Impression: External hydrocephalus, full anterior fontanelle.
Doctor's answer:
Hydrocephalus is a disease characterized by increased intracranial pressure due to the accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid caused by impaired circulation. Children suffering from this condition exhibit a certain degree of intellectual retardation. Modern medicine attributes the cause of this disease primarily to congenital spinal cord defects or vascular malformations, purulent meningitis or tuberculous meningitis, poor absorption of intracranial hemorrhage postpartum, severe vitamin deficiencies, and other factors that lead to impaired cerebrospinal fluid circulation.In traditional Chinese medicine, this condition is referred to as "Jie Lin" (hydrocephalus). Its etiology is mainly attributed to congenital deficiency in innate constitution, kidney qi deficiency, or malnutrition in later life leading to spleen and stomach weakness. It can also be caused by external exposure to wind-heat, intense heat toxins, or the combination of liver fire or phlegm-heat ascending to the brain. Common symptoms include uniformly enlarged head size, separation of cranial sutures, bulging and enlarged fontanelles, visible blue veins on the scalp, drooping eyes resembling a setting sun, accompanied by pale complexion, emaciation, delayed development, mental sluggishness, impaired vision, and even vomiting or convulsions.