Ventriculoperitoneal shunt infections in patients with hydrocephalus.

Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt infections can be detrimental to the pediatric patient with hydrocephalus and his or her family. Although there are many causes of hydrocephalus in the pediatric patient, the standard treatment of care is surgical placement of a VP shunt. Current treatment modalities when a ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection has occurred and the differences between the causes of late and early shunt infections are reviewed. Most importantly, the signs and symptoms that the families of the child undergoing a VP shunt must know during the postoperative period, and the tools they can use to help combat and prevent VP shunt infections are discussed.