Brain Swelling

If you bump your knee, it's likely to swell. But what if you injure your brain?

Swelling -- also called edema -- is the body's response to many types of injury. It can result from overuse or infection. Usually, swelling happens quickly and is simple to treat with some combination of rest, ice, elevation, medication, or removal of excess fluid.

Your brain can also swell as a result of injury, illness, or other reasons. Brain swelling, though, can quickly cause serious problems -- including death. It's also usually more difficult to treat. As your body's master control system, the brain is critical to overall function. Yet, the thick, bony skull that snugly protects this vital organ provides little room for the brain to swell.

What Is Brain Swelling?

Brain swelling goes by many names:

• Brain edema
• Elevated intracranial pressure
• Cerebral edema

Swelling can occur in specific locations or throughout the brain. It depends on the cause. Wherever it occurs, brain swelling increases pressure inside the skull. That's known as intracranial pressure, or ICP. This pressure can prevent blood from flowing to your brain, which deprives it of the oxygen it needs to function. Swelling can also block other fluids from leaving your brain, making the swelling even worse. Damage or death of brain cells may result.

What Causes Brain Swelling?

Injury, other health problems, infections, tumors, and even high altitudes -- any of these problems can cause brain swelling to occur. The following list explains different ways the brain can swell:

Meningitis: This is an infection in which the covering of the brain becomes inflamed. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses, other organisms, and some medications.Encephalitis: This is an infection in which the brain itself becomes inflamed. It is most often caused by a group of viruses and is spread usually through insect bites. Toxoplasmosis: This infection is caused by a parasite. Toxoplasmosis most often affects fetuses, young infants, and people with damaged immune systems.Subdural abscess: Subdural abscess (empyema) refers to an area of the brain becoming abscessed or filled with pus, usually after another illness such as meningitis or a sinus infection. The infection can spread quickly, causing swelling and blocking other fluid from leaving the brain.

What Are the Symptoms of Brain Swelling?

Symptoms of brain swelling vary, depending on the severity and the cause. Usually they begin suddenly. You may notice any of these symptoms:

• Headache
• Neck pain or stiffness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness
• Irregular breathing
• Vision loss or changes
• Memory loss
• Inability to walk
• Difficulty speaking
• Stupor
• Seizures
• Loss of consciousness

How Is Brain Swelling Diagnosed?

The steps used by your doctor to diagnose brain swelling depend on the symptoms and the suspected cause. Common exams and tests used in the diagnosis include:

• Head and neck exam
• Neurologic exam
• CT scan of the head to identify the extent and location of the swelling
• MRI of the head to identify the extent and location of the swelling
• Blood tests to check for causes of the swelling
• Lumbar puncture

What Is the Treatment for Brain Swelling?

Minor cases of brain swelling due to causes such as moderate altitude sickness or a slight concussion often resolve within a few days. In most cases, however, more treatment is needed quickly.

The goal is to assure that the brain receives enough blood and oxygen to remain healthy while the swelling is relieved and any underlying causes are treated. This may require a combination of medical and surgical treatments. Prompt treatment usually results in quicker and more complete recovery. Without it, some damage may remain.

Supportive care for brain edema may include any combination of the following:

Removing part of the skull to relieve intracranial pressure; this procedure is called decompressive craniectomy.Removing or repairing the source of the swelling, such as repairing a damaged artery or vein or removing a growth

What Are the Long-Term Effects of Brain Swelling?

It's common to have lingering effects from brain swelling. The problems you notice depend on the severity as well as the location of the injury. Symptoms may be noticed with any of the following:

• Sleeping
• Thinking and attention skills
• Headaches
• Depression
• Communication skills
• Movement

Your health care team is available to help you deal with these challenges. While some problems may continue to diminish over time, others may require ongoing treatment.

How Can I Protect my Head?

To protect the brain, keep these tips in mind as you go about your daily activities:

• Use a helmet when biking, skating, playing contact sports, or performing other activities in which you might fall and hit your head.
• Wear seat belts properly when driving or riding in vehicles.
• Make sure you are doing all you can to control high blood pressure and heart disease.
• Avoid smoking.
• When traveling to high elevations, take your time -- allow your body to adjust to the altitude.

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