Increase intracranial pressure (ICP)

Causes of increased ICP

1- Hydrocephalus.               

 2- Meningitis.                          

3- Cerebral abscess.

4- Intracranial hemorrhage.   

5- Craniostenosis.             

6- Brain tumors.                                                 

7- CNS Leukemia.        

8- Lead encephalopathy.                    

9- Tuberculoma.

10- Cerebral edema: post traumatic, post hypoxic. 

1- Benign intracranial hypertension e.g. hypervitaminosis A, tetracycline therapy.

Clinical picture

•          In infancy : irritability, lethargy, morning vomiting, tense or bulging of anterior fontanel, distended scalp veins and head enlargement.

In older children:

•          irritability, lethargy, morning vomiting, headache, visual disturbances and diplopia.

•           Papilledema, sixth nerve paralysis, altered mental state; coma, bradycardia, and irregular respiration may be present.

Diagnosis

•          By the clinical picture.

•           Skull x-ray .

Treatment

  · Treatment of the cause.

  · Temporary reduction of increased ICP by using mannitol.