An infant with hydranencephaly may appear normal at birth. The infant's head size and spontaneous reflexes such as sucking, swallowing, crying, and moving the arms and legs may all seem normal. However, after a few weeks the infant usually becomes irritable and has increased muscle tone. Diagnosis may be delayed for several months because early behavior appears to be relatively normal. There is no definitive treatment for hydranencephaly.
Treatment is symptomatic and supportive.
The outlook for children with hydranencephaly is poor. Death generally occurs before age 1. The knowledge gained from these fundamental studies provides the foundation for understanding how this process can go awry and, thus, offers hope for new means to treat and prevent developmental brain disorders, including hydranencephaly. Principles of Diagnosis and Management. I, 2nd edition, Butterworth-Heinemann, Boston, pp.