Chiari isn't generally considered a life-threatening illness. It is however, a life-altering one. Chiari can cause quite a bit of damage if not treated - there is no cure, threatment helps with symptoms. It can cause balance issues, memory problems, and brain damage.
Chiari can cause also syringomyelia - a blockage of spinal fluid, which can lead to paralysis or nerve damage.
However, with all that said. It is at least possible for Chiari to cause death. Chiari is a brain/skull malformation. The brain can be damaged enough to cause death.
Hi Mo,
There have been cases reported as sudden death in infants and it was later determioned they had chiari.
Death in these cases is rare.
Also if there were any deaths after surgery it would most likely be due to other health issues as contributors to the death...not chiari itself.
It is very important to get a chiari specialist to be sure u r in the most capable of hands.
"selma"