ABSTRACT
We report on a case of a 13-month-old female infant who was admitted to our department with the chief complaints of drowsiness and vomiting. A history of an unspecified viral infection was reported. Clinical examination was negative for focal neurological signs or signs of central nervous system infection. Initial CT scan revealed obstructive hydrocephalus, and shunting was scheduled. Dexamethasone treatment was started. Eight hours after admission the child almost restored his baseline mental status and the operation was postponed. The dexamethasone treatment was discontinued 3 days later. Follow up CT and MRI scans were normal. We discuss the case and the possible causes of transient hydrocephalus in children.
Subject(s)
Hydrocephalus/pathology , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use , Central Nervous System Infections/cerebrospinal fluid , Central Nervous System Infections/complications , Cerebral Ventricles/pathology , Cerebral Ventriculography , Dexamethasone/therapeutic use , Female , Humans , Hydrocephalus/drug therapy , Hydrocephalus/etiology , Infant , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Neurologic Examination , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Virus Diseases/cerebrospinal fluid , Virus Diseases/complicationsABSTRACT
Lesions on certain brain areas can cause psychiatric signs. Symptomatic arachnoid cysts can produce a variety of symptoms like headache, seizures, increased ICP, and rarely psychiatric disorders. We report a case of a young woman with a left temporal lobe arachnoid cyst, presented with headache and an atypical psychosis. A 72-h epidural ICP recording revealed incidental elevation of ICP. After a permanent shunt was placed, patient's symptoms improved substantially, and antipsychotic medication was significantly reduced.
