Hydrocephalus is a disease that can present many clinical manifestations, compromising the growth and development of the child.Risks of complications as infectious processes and impairment of the immune system can be attenuated in the presence of nutritional deficiencies.Objective: To describe the nutritional profile of children with hydrocephalus.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study developed at the Neurosurgery Ambulatory of the University Hospital in Sergipe, Northeast Brazil, from August 2010 to May 2011.Results: From the 35 studied children, 17.1% were low weight, 31.4% were malnourished, presenting with linear growth impairment, 40.0% had anemia, and 37.2% presented low levels of pre-albumin.There was a significant difference for body mass index (BMI)/age (p=0.022),hemoglobin (p=0.031),haematocrit (p=0.011) and pre-albumin (p=0.024) in patients aged from six to 24 months.The diet showed significant difference between age groups for the energetic value (p=0.002),calcium (p=0.005),folate (p=0.015),vitamin D (p=0.011), vitamin E (p=0.005), cereal group (p=0.002) and group of meat/egg (p=0.033);diet impairment was concentrated in children from 25 to 76 months.There was inadequate intake of the meat/egg group also among children aged 6 to 24 months.Conclusions: Malnutrition affecting weight, levels of pre-albumin and anemia was present in children aged from six to 24 months.Inadequate food consumption was prevalent among children aged 25 to 76 months.