What is intracranial hypertension and what are the symptoms and what is the medication for it?
Intracranial hypertension (IH) is the general name given to the disorders in which the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure inside the brain is too high. It is uncommon, affecting around 1 in every 100,000 people (mainly women) and the usual age of onset is the late 20s. It can occur suddenly or over a long period of time and its cause remains unclear although occasionally can be linked to brain tumours. The commonest symptom is a severe headache, not relieved by anything, but there may also be vision disturbance, disorientation, loss of memory or concentration, vomiting, dizziness and pins and needles in the hands. The diagnosis is by a brain scan and by measuring the CSF pressure (by a technique known as a lumbar puncture) and treatment varies. Medical treatment can include using drugs known as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors in high doses to suppress the production of CSF although these can have significant side effects. If medical therapy fails and the vision is at risk, two types of s
