Cerebral edema is a condition characterized by the presence of a large amount of water in the brain. If not treated, it can be fatal, or cause severe brain damage, and the quicker a patient is treated, the better his or her chances of recovery will be. Because this condition can be extremely serious, evaluations to check for signs of cerebral edema are common when patients are brought in for head trauma, because doctors want to catch it as early as possible.

When a patient has cerebral edema, there is way more fluid in the skull than there should be. This causes the brain to swell, which has a number of consequences. As the brain swells, it can compromise its own blood flow, much like a hose will turn off if you step on it. Decreased flow of blood to the brain can cause brain damage or death. The increased pressure in the skull may also force the brain to move around in the skull, which it is not designed to do.

Treatment for cerebral edema involves relieving the pressure, getting rid of the water, and getting to the root cause of the problem to see if recurrence can be prevented. The use of corticosteroids can help bring the swelling down, while diuretics will help the body express the excess water, which will further reduce the swelling. Sometimes surgical means are used to relieve pressure on the brain as well, although this can be dangerous.

People who have suffered head injuries are at the most risk of developing cerebral edema, especially if the injuries were severe. The brain does not take kindly to being sloshed around or smashed abruptly into things, and it may respond by starting to retain water. Cerebral edema can also develop at high altitude, causing what is known as High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE), a condition which can rapidly turn fatal if a climber does not descend.

Someone with developing cerebral edema may start to demonstrate an altered level of consciousness, confusion, dizziness, nausea, lack of coordination, or numbness. If someone receives a head injury and any of these symptoms manifest, medical attention should be sought immediately. It's always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to brain injuries; doctors would far rather look at a healthy patient to alleviate fears than see a patient when it is too late.