What Is The Difference Between Hydrocephalus And Spina Bifida?
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Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for your question. I must apologize for the late reply but I happen to be away traveling this week so until Sunday will have difficulties in answering quickly.
Regarding your question, they are not necessarily different, meaning that hydrocephalus can be a manifestation of spina bifida.
Hydrocephalus means build up of fluid inside the brain. It can be caused by more than one condition, many of them actually like stroke, tumor, infection, born malformations like spina bifida etc.
Spina bifida on the other hand is a specific condition, a birth defect the vertebral spinal canal where the spinal cord passes is not well formed, has a point where it is not closed leaving an opening. The consequences depend on the size of this opening, if small may have no symptoms, but if bigger the cord layers, the meninges may push out of this opening creating a sac of cerebrospinal fluid called a meningocele. In the most severe form the spinal cord may push out as well myelomeningocele. In these severe forms with myelomeningocele hydrocephalus may occur as the cerebellum, the little brain is displaced downwards disrupting the normal circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid.
So to resume, hydrocephalus is build up of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain which can be due to many different causes, spina bifida is one of these possible causes.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Thank you.
Detailed Answer:
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