Interesting...Warrior posted this is the Chiari community too...so I think maybe she is wondering if there could be Chiari involvement?
Did they do an MRI or just a CT? Chiari can cause hydrocephalus b/c the CSF flow gets blocked by a herniation...causing a fluid buildup. I know some members have been dx with a stroke b4 the Chiari was found.
My experience of the start of major Chiari symptoms was the same...my kids had been sick and I thought I had the same virus...got home from work one night and I was in tears from the pain...headache, all over body pain, extreme pain in my chest with rapid heartbeat...so I went to the ER and they said it was just a bad virus. That is where things went downhill for me..
If you are interested in learning more, pls visit the community:
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Chiari-Malformation/show/257
Take care and you are a really good friend to do this! I think your friend will come around, it sounds like he is dealing with some serious depression over this and ppl tend to withdraw from others when they feel like this. So, don't give up on him and keep trying to maintain contact.
Carolyn