What Are Signs of Shunt Malfunction?
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center provides the following warning signs of shunt malfunction.
Signs of shunt malfunction to look for in your child:
Infants
- Bulging fontanelle (soft spot)
- Unusual vomiting
- Irritability
- Sun-setting eyes (when the white part of the eyes shows above the pupils)
- Swelling along the shunt tract if your child has a shunt
- Lethargy (increased sleepiness)
- Seizures
Toddlers
- Vomiting
- Lethargy (sleepiness)
- Irritability
- Headaches
- Swelling along the shunt tract if your child has a shunt
- Seizures
School-Age Children
- Headaches
- Vomiting
- Lethargy (sleepiness)
- Irritability
- Swelling along the shunt tract if your child has a shunt.
- Abnormalities of eye movements, double vision
- Decreased school performance
- Periods of confusion
- Seizures
What should I do if my child has any of these symptoms?
- If your child becomes very ill (i.e., persistent vomiting, extreme sleepiness, severe headache, new seizures), seek medical attention immediately.
- Remember that you may see one or two warning signs at a time. You will probably not see all the signs at any one time.
- Call your child's doctor if you notice one or more of these signs. If your child's doctor feels this is a neurosurgical problem, please call our office at 513-636-4726 and your call will be directed to the appropriate person.
