What is hydrocephalus?
Hydrocephalus happens when cerebrospinal fluid builds up abnormally in or around the brain. Because the skull cannot expand to make room, that extra fluid raises pressure on brain tissue and usually needs medical treatment.
Hydrocephalus Awareness Month
Hydrocephalus Awareness Month
Every Brain Has a Story. Every Journey Deserves Support.
Raise Awareness. Spread Hope. Support the Journey. A limited-edition awareness tee funds education and family support all month long.
Hydrocephalus is a neurological condition involving an abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in or around the brain. That buildup can increase pressure inside the skull and often requires medical treatment to protect brain function. It affects newborns, children, and adults — and behind each diagnosis is a family learning a new normal.
About Hydrocephalus
Plain answers to the questions families ask first
Common signs and symptoms
In infants: rapid head growth, a bulging soft spot, poor feeding, irritability, or downward-fixed eyes. In older children and adults: persistent headaches, nausea, blurred vision, balance and walking changes, memory or concentration difficulty, and unusual fatigue.
How it affects children and adults
Hydrocephalus can appear at any age — at birth, after an injury or infection, or later in life. The impact varies widely. Some people need learning, mobility, or workplace accommodations; many live full, active lives with the right care in place.
Treatment options
The most common treatment is a shunt, a small valve and tube system that drains excess fluid to another part of the body. Some people are candidates for endoscopic procedures, such as an endoscopic third ventriculostomy, that create a new pathway for fluid to flow.
Why ongoing care matters
Treatment is a long-term journey, not a single event. Regular follow-up, knowing the warning signs of a shunt problem, and a steady team of clinicians, caregivers, and peers keep every person supported over a lifetime.
You Are Not Alone
“Behind every diagnosis is a person, a family, and a story. This campaign exists to bring awareness, encouragement, education, and support to the hydrocephalus community.”
— Jireh Foundation
Wear awareness with us