What Are Signs of Shunt Malfunction?
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center provides the following warning signs of shunt malfunction:
- Headaches
- Vomiting
- Lethargy (sleepiness)
- Irritability
- Swelling or redness along the shunt tract
- Decreased school performance
- Periods of confusion
- Seizures
Shunt Malfunctions
- If your child becomes very ill (persistent vomiting, extreme sleepiness, severe headache), seek medical assistance immediately.
- Call your child’s doctor if you think that your child is having a shunt malfunction based on the symptoms described above.
- Remember that you may see only one or two warning signs at a time. You will not see all of the signs at one time. Call your child's doctor if you notice one or more of these signs in your child.
- Call your doctor if vomiting and lethargy occur without fever or diarrhea. You may be instructed to first be seen by your primary medical doctor to assess for another illness.
- DO NOT PUSH ON OR PUT PRESSURE ON THE SHUNT.
- You may be sent for a head CT before seeing a member of the neurosurgery team.
