Increased intracranial pressure may be due to brain tissue swelling, blood or other fluid accumulating inside the skull, or to a combination of these situations.

The following signs and symptoms may indicate increased intracranial pressure.

a. Headache.

b. Nausea and/or vomiting.

c. Loss of consciousness (either current or recent unconsciousness).

d. Dilated pupils that do not constrict when exposed to bright light (an early sign of serious head injury) or changes in pupil symmetry.

e. Lateral loss of motor nerve function in which one side of the body becomes paralyzed (may not occur immediately).

f. Slow respiratory rate or change in respiratory pattern.

g. A steady rise in the systolic blood pressure (may not be present if there is significant bleeding elsewhere).

h. A rise in the pulse pressure (systolic pressure minus diastolic pressure).

i. Elevated body temperature.

j. Restlessness (indicates insufficient oxygenation of the brain).

k. Slurred speech.

l. Convulsions or twitching.

m. Abnormal posturing.