Obstructive hydrocephalus happens when spinal fluid is blocked inside the brain, so pressure rises quickly. Symptoms can appear within hours in adults, or within days in babies. The hallmark is a sudden, pounding headache that is worse in the morning or when bending forward. Coughing or sneezing can feel like a hammer hit inside the skull. Nausea and vomiting follow the headache, often with little warning. A person may throw up and feel better for a short time, then the sickness returns. Vision blurs at the edges first, like looking through a tunnel. Lights can seem too bright, and quick... Learn more