Abstract
BENIGN intracranial hypertension or pseudotumor cerebri, as the condition is termed more frequently, is a syndrome of increased intracranial pressure with a normal ventricular system and cerebrospinal fluid of normal composition. Headache of moderate degree is the most common symptom and vomiting, impairment of vision and diplopia occur less often; papilledema and abducens palsy are the usual neurologic signs. The prognosis is almost invariably good. Although few reports of the syndrome are found in pediatric literature, its occurrence is relatively common during childhood. The review of reports by Davidoff, Foley, and others has disclosed that 84 (37%) of 224 patients were children and of these 75 (90%) were between 5 and 15 years of age. The infrequent occurrence or recognition of the syndrome in infants and young children is noteworthy.