Benign intracranial hypertension. A review of 79 cases in infancy and childhood.

An analysis is presented of 79 children under the age of 15 years suffering from benign intracranial hypertension. The commonest predisposing factor was chronic middle-ear disease which was found in 39%. Headache was the presenting symptom in 57% followed in order of frequency by earache, blurred or double vision, and vomiting. Papilloedema was present at some stage in 95%. Contrast radiography was regarded as mandatory in order to exclude a space-occupying lesion, the procedure of choice being ventriculography. A case is made for considering, as alternative procedures, echoencephalography or angiography. Treatment was limited to lumbar puncture and the prognosis was uniformly good. Nevertheless vigilance must be maintained because of the risk of permanent damage to vision from persistent papilloedema.