HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

question-icon

What Are The Symptoms Of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus?

default
Posted on Wed, 6 May 2015
Question: What is NPH, and what are it's symptoms, prognosis, etc.?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (38 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Triad of memory loss,gait imbalance and urinary incontinence.

Detailed Answer:
Hi D,
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist,here to answer your query.

Normal Pressure hydrocephalus is the name given to a disease characterized by chronic hydrocephalus but normal or minimally elevated pressure on spinal tap or lumbar puncture(hence called 'normal' pressure).It is a disease of adults,usually more than 40 years.

The hallmark 'triad of symptoms' present in this disease are-
1)Loss of memory
2)Urinary incontinence
3)Gait imbalance or difficulty in walking

Shunt surgery is the mainstay of treatment.
Prognosis is not good and even after shunt surgery,the symptoms improve well with sustained improvement only in 20-30% of the patients.

Hope I have answered your query.If you have some follow-up questions,I shall be glad to answer else,please close the thread-rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me.

Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Ajay Panwar

Neurologist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 1827 Questions

Ask me a question
premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Ask a Neurologist
Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
backtotop2
What Are The Symptoms Of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus?

Brief Answer: Triad of memory loss,gait imbalance and urinary incontinence. Detailed Answer: Hi D, Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com. I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist,here to answer your query. Normal Pressure hydrocephalus is the name given to a disease characterized by chronic hydrocephalus but normal or minimally elevated pressure on spinal tap or lumbar puncture(hence called 'normal' pressure).It is a disease of adults,usually more than 40 years. The hallmark 'triad of symptoms' present in this disease are- 1)Loss of memory 2)Urinary incontinence 3)Gait imbalance or difficulty in walking Shunt surgery is the mainstay of treatment. Prognosis is not good and even after shunt surgery,the symptoms improve well with sustained improvement only in 20-30% of the patients. Hope I have answered your query.If you have some follow-up questions,I shall be glad to answer else,please close the thread-rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me. Dr.Ajay Panwar, MD,DM(Neurology)