Why does the baby's brain space widen?

Widening of the intercerebral space is a common health problem in babies. There are many reasons for this problem, both physiological and pathological. There is no need to worry too much about the physiological widening of the brain space. Of course, for diseases such as hydrocephalus and subdural effusion that cause widening of the brain space, timely treatment is needed. Below, we will introduce to you the common causes of widened brain space!

1. Normal physiological phenomena

Many babies are diagnosed with "external hydrocephalus" after brain CT scans. Parents are under a lot of pressure and have to run around to major hospitals to give their children a lot of treatments. In fact, many cases diagnosed as external hydrocephalus are actually caused by widening of the extracerebral space, which is a normal physiological phenomenon.

Widening of the extracerebral space within 6 months is a normal physiological developmental phenomenon. The extracerebral space gradually widens from birth to 6 months and then gradually narrows.

Within 6 months, as the central nervous system continues to myelinate, the frontal lobe belongs to the neocortex and develops late, the water content of the brain decreases, and the extracerebral space widens, which will gradually disappear after 6 months.

Many people regard the widening of the extracerebral space as overtreatment of hydrocephalus, and give children high-R oxygen, nutritional injections, etc., which cause unnecessary pain to the children, affect their growth and development, and cause a waste of resources.

2. Hydrocephalus

The abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the subarachnoid space or ventricles of the skull, causing abnormal enlargement of part or all of it, is called hydrocephalus. Simple ventricle enlargement is called intracerebral hydrocephalus, and simple intracranial subarachnoid space enlargement is called extracerebral hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is not a single disease change, but a cerebrospinal fluid circulation disorder caused by many pathological reasons. Hydrocephalus is caused by cerebrospinal fluid circulation disorders (channel obstruction), cerebrospinal fluid absorption disorders, excessive cerebrospinal fluid secretion, and brain parenchyma atrophy. The most common causes in clinical practice are obstructive causes, such as obstruction in different parts of the ventricular system, compression by space-occupying lesions in adjacent parts of the ventricular system, and congenital malformations of the central nervous system. According to fluid dynamics, it is divided into communicating hydrocephalus and obstructive hydrocephalus; according to the time limit of progression, it is divided into congenital and acquired hydrocephalus, acute and chronic hydrocephalus, progressive and static hydrocephalus; according to imaging, it is divided into simple, secondary and compensatory hydrocephalus; according to pathophysiology, it is divided into high-pressure hydrocephalus, normal-pressure hydrocephalus, and cerebral atrophy hydrocephalus; according to age, it is divided into childhood and adult hydrocephalus.

3. Subdural effusion

Subdural effusion accounts for 0.5% to 1% of craniocerebral trauma and often occurs in one or both frontal and temporal regions, with the bilateral frontal region being more common.

Subdural effusion can be divided into acute and chronic. Acute effusion is generally rare and forms within a few hours, while chronic effusion may have a capsule.

The surface of the brain is composed of three layers of membranes, from the outside to the inside: the dura mater, the arachnoid mater, and the pia mater, which support the brain.

Cerebrospinal fluid is produced by the choroid plexus within the ventricles and distributed in the ventricles and subarachnoid space. It has the functions of nourishing, cushioning vibrations, regulating intracranial pressure and protecting the brain. Subdural effusion is formed when cerebrospinal fluid enters the subdural space.