The most common causes of a large anterior fontanel or delayed fontanel closure are achondroplasia, hypothyroidism, Down syndrome, increased intracranial pressure, and rickets.

What does sinking and bulging fontanelles indicate?

The fontanelles should feel firm and very slightly concave to the touch. A noticeably sunken fontanelle is a sign that the infant does not have enough fluid in its body. The sutures or anatomical lines where the bony plates of the skull join together can be easily felt in the newborn infant.

Can bulging fontanelle be treated?

A bulging fontanel on a baby may be a sign of a serious problem that requires urgent treatment. Although some relatively harmless conditions may also cause the swelling, it is impossible to determine the cause just from the symptoms, so it is crucial to seek medical care immediately.

How do you treat fontanelles?

If the sunken fontanel is due to dehydration, immediate medical attention may be necessary, sometimes in the hospital. In a hospital, a doctor will give the infant fluids orally to prompt rehydration. If the infant has been vomiting, doctors may administer fluids into the bloodstream through an intravenous (IV) line.

Can adults have fontanelles?

Fontanelles allow for rapid stretching and deformation of the cranium as the brain expands faster than the surrounding bone can grow. The fontanelles on the lateral vault permit superoinferior brain growth. Two additional fontanelles (metopic fontanelle and sagittal or third fontanelle) can also be present in humans.

What does enlarged fontanelles mean?

Fontanelles – enlarged. Enlarged fontanelles are larger than expected soft spots for the age of a baby. The skull of an infant or young child is made up of bony plates that allow for growth of the skull. The borders at which these plates intersect are called sutures or suture lines.

What does a bulging fontanelle feel like?

The fontanelles should feel firm and very slightly curved inward to the touch. A tense or bulging fontanelle occurs when fluid builds up in the brain or the brain swells, causing increased pressure inside the skull.

What is the function of the fontanel in the skull?

In an infant, the space where 2 sutures join forms a membrane-covered “soft spot” called a fontanelle (fontanel). The fontanelles allow for growth of the brain and skull during an infant’s first year. There are normally several fontanelles on a newborn’s skull.

How is the diagnosis of an abnormal fontanel made?

The diagnosis of an abnormal fontanel requires an understanding of the wide variation of normal. At birth, an infant has six fontanels. The anterior fontanel is the largest and most important for clinical evaluation. The average size of the anterior fontanel is 2.1 cm, and the median time of closure is 13.8 months.