Read More About Pseudotumor Cerebri
Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) is also called as the “Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH)” and “benign intracranial hypertension (BIH). This is a neurological disorder that involves the development of increased pressure around the brain. There is no tumor involved in this disorder.
Risk factors of Idiopathic intracranial hypertension
IIH is usually found in women more than men. Mostly women who are obese and are close to menopause are diagnosed with this condition. The disorder is very rarely found in infants; however, can be found in children. The cause of Pseudotumor cerebri is still unknown. However, one can decrease the chances of the disorder if he, or she, has a better knowledge of PTC’s danger factors. There are some medicines that are considered other dangerous factors related to the Idiopathic intracranial hypertension. The following is a list of these medicines:
? Birth control pills
? Isotretinion
? Cyclosporine
? Nalidixic Acid
? Minocycline
? Sulfa Drugs
? Phenytoin
? Nitrofurantoin
? Steroids
? Tetracycline
? Tamoxifen
? Vitamin A
Risk factors other than medicines include:
? Obesity
? Pregnancy
? Anemia (Iron deficiency)
? Commencement of menstruation (menarche)
? Crushing’s disease
? Addison’s disease
? Chronic kidney failure
? Hypoparathyroidism
Symptoms of Idiopathic intracranial hypertension
The following are the symptoms of Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). If you ever notice any of these symptoms, it would be best to see your doctor immediately. However, having these symptoms does not always mean that you are suffering from Pseudotumor cerebri. These might also be symptoms for some other condition. Moreover, the person suffering from the condition will not necessarily experience all of the symptoms; it is possible that only one or two are present.
? Dizziness
? Blurred vision
? Vision loss
? Tinnitus (this is the buzzing sound in the ears)
? Nausea
? Headache
? Diplopia (i.e. double vision)
A person suffering from the disorder might notice that these symptoms get worse if they are doing any physical activity.
Diagnosis
For the diagnosis of Idiopathic intracranial hypertension, a doctor needs to look for the following signs through physical examination:
? Increased head size
? Bulging of anterior fontanelle
? Optic nerve swelling
Tests carried out by the doctor to confirm the presence of the condition include:
? Spinal tap (lumbar puncture)
? MRI of the head using MR venography
? Eye exam
? Visual field testing
? CT scan of head
If a person is diagnosed with PTC, the doctor will prescribe him/her some medications and might recommend him/her to lose weight. In some cases, surgery might be carried out in order to reduce the pressure on the optic nerve.
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