Increased intracranial pressure Assessment Questionnaire

Why: e.g. any headache, however mild, that is present on or soon after waking and which is made worse by coughing, straining or sneezing. The headaches usually increase in severity and frequency with the passage of time. May be accompanied by morning vomiting. Drowsiness is a late feature.

Why: indicates probably hydrocephalus (a group of conditions characterized by an increase in cerebrospinal fluid volume associated with elevated intracranial pressure and dilatation of the brain ventricles) e.g. Dandy-Walker syndrome, Arnold Chiari syndrome.

Why: traumatic injury to the brain may cause increased intracranial pressure due to swelling of the brain or subdural or extradural haematoma.

Why: drowning causes lack of oxygen to the brain and consequent hypoxic brain injury which may cause brain swelling and increased intracranial pressure.

Why: causes lack of oxygen to the brain and consequent hypoxic brain injury which may cause brain swelling and increased intra-cranial pressure.

Why: e.g. some medical conditions may increase the risk of benign intracranial hypertension including hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, hypoparathyroidism, Addison's disease, Cushing's syndrome, sarcoidosis, systemic lupus erythematosus.

Why: e.g. some medications may increase the risk of benign intracranial hypertension including oral contraceptive pill, corticosteroids, supplemental vitamin A, tetracycline, nitrofurantoin, lithium, indomethacin, phenytoin.

Why: i.e. drowsiness progressing to stupor and coma - may suggest a mass in the brain that is placing pressure on the brain stem.

Why: may suggest a mass in the brain, whether malignant or benign.

Why: may occur on the opposite side to the brain mass (due to direct effect of mass) or on the same side of brain mass due to compression of the brain stem due to increased intracranial pressure.

Why: e.g. pain, swelling and tenderness developing behind the ear associated with general deterioration in well-being and mucous to pus-like ear discharge - Mastoiditis may be complicated by intracranial venous sinus thrombosis which can cause raised intracranial pressure.

Why: e.g. gradual or rapid onset of headache, neck stiffness, nausea and vomiting, often with symptoms of sixth cranial nerve palsy (failure of lateral movement of the eyes with eye squint, blurred vision and double vision). Most commonly affects young, often obese women..