Facts about Hydrocephalus


Although you may have not heard the word hydrocephalus (hi-dro-seff-a-lus), it is not an uncommon condition. Hydrocephalus has no ethnic or gender preferences – and it can develop at any time during gestation all the way through to senior adulthood.

Here are a few facts about Hydrocephalus:

  • Hydrocephalus is one of the most common birth defects, each year one out of every 500 births results in hydrocephalus
  • Another 6,000 children annually develop hydrocephalus during the first 2 years of life
  • Brain injury occurs every 15 seconds in this country – and in some cases leads to the development of hydrocephalus
  • There are approximately 75,000 discharges a year from hospitals in the U.S. with a diagnosis of hydrocephalus
  • More than 50% of hydrocephalus cases are congenital
  • 70-90% of children born with spina bifida also develop hydrocephalus
  • CSF shunting procedures account for approximately $100 million health care spending in the United States alone – half of this amount is spent on shunt revisions
  • In the past 25+ years, death rates associated with hydrocephalus have decreased from 54% to 5%, and the occurrence of intellectual disability has decreased from 62% to 30%
  • Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus affects adults and can cause dementia, difficulty in walking and, urinary incontinence
  • No statistics are kept (by our government), for those who develop

For more facts, please download our More Facts About Hydrocephalus informational sheet.

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