There are two bony areas on the top of a baby's head, which are called fontanelles. Under normal circumstances, after a period of time after birth, it will close on its own and become fully healed. However, gradually, some parents found that their baby's fontanelle would become sunken when closed. Is it normal for a baby's fontanelle to be closed but with a depression?
Is it normal for a baby's fontanelle to be closed but with a depression
It is obviously abnormal. Fontanelle depression refers to the downward depression of the fontanelle caused by illness or other reasons.
1. Acute dehydration. Commonly seen in severe diarrhea, vomiting, high fever, excessive sweating, etc., the baby's anterior fontanelle is sunken due to dehydration, and fluid supplementation is needed immediately.
2. Malnutrition. If the baby suffers from long-term malnutrition and excessive weight loss, the anterior fontanelle may also become sunken.
3. The cerebrospinal fluid in the skull constantly exchanges with the blood and tissue fluids in the body to maintain balance. When the body loses a lot of water, the cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles also decreases, the pressure decreases, and the fontanelle will be significantly depressed.
What are the abnormal phenomena of fontanelle
1. Bulge of fontanelle
The baby's anterior fontanelle is normally flat. If it suddenly swells, especially when the baby is crying and touched with their hand, the fontanelle still feels tight. At the same time, the baby also has fever, vomiting, and even convulsions, indicating an increase in intracranial pressure.
2. Full fontanelle
If you notice that your baby's fontanelle is gradually becoming fuller, you should be alert to the possibility of a tumor growing in the skull, or the accumulation of fluid, pus, blood, etc. under the dura mater
3. fontanelle depression
If a baby's fontanelle sinks in a short period of time, the most common reason is that the baby's body lacks water, such as not replenishing water in a timely manner after diarrhea, causing the anterior fontanelle to sink in.
4. Early closure of fontanelle
If the baby experiences premature closure of the fontanelle, it is necessary to pay attention to measuring the size of the baby's head circumference. If the head circumference is lower than the normal value, there may be developmental abnormalities in the brain.
A normal baby's fontanelle will automatically close within three months after birth. If these abnormal phenomena occur, parents must take them seriously and not have a lucky mentality. Be sure to take your babies to the hospital for timely treatment, early detection and treatment, so as not to affect their brain development and be healthier.
