How Common Is Hydrocephalus?

Hydrocephalus occurs in two out of every 1,000 births in the United States. It is not known how many people develop it after birth. Approximately 125,000 persons are living with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunts, and 33,000 shunts are placed annually in the United States.

How common is hydrocephalus in babies?

Hydrocephalus is not a disease but a condition and has several causes. Congenital (inborn) hydrocephalus occurs in one or two of every 1,000 babies born in the U.S. Hydrocephalus is the most common reason for brain surgery in children.

What is the most common cause of hydrocephalus?

Possible causes of acquired hydrocephalus include: bleeding inside the brain – for example, if blood leaks over the surface of the brain (subarachnoid haemorrhage) blood clots in the brain (venous thrombosis) meningitis – an infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.