How to determine whether the fontanelle is sunken

Expectant fathers and mothers will be more familiar with the term fontanelle, because fontanelle is an important process in the development of the skull during the baby's physical development. Because it concerns the baby's brain, expectant parents should pay special attention to the problem of fontanelle after the baby is born. Fontanelle can be divided into two types: large and small. How to judge whether the baby's fontanelle is sunken or other abnormal symptoms?

The human skull is composed of two parietal bones, two frontal bones, two temporal bones and the occipital bone. When the baby is born, these bones have not yet developed well and the sutures have not yet completely closed. There is a diamond-shaped gap in front of the head, called the anterior fontanelle, also known as the large fontanelle. There is a "human" shaped gap at the back of the head, called the posterior fontanelle, also known as the small fontanelle. Changes in the anterior fontanelle can indicate relevant diseases, but the posterior fontanelle cannot provide clues to relevant diseases because it closes early.

When the baby is born, the anterior fontanelle is about the size of an adult's thumb (1.5 to 2 cm, the distance between the midpoints of the opposite sides). Because the brain grows slightly faster than the skull in the first few months after birth, the anterior fontanelle of a normal baby may slightly increase as the head circumference increases during this stage, but generally does not exceed 3 cm and does not protrude outward. As the baby grows, it usually closes completely when the baby is 1 to 1.5 years old. The posterior fontanelle is located in the middle of the back of the head. It is triangular in shape and usually closes 2 to 3 months after birth.

The diamond-shaped gap in front of the baby's head is the fontanelle. The anterior fontanelle can also be called the major fontanelle.

2. Will the baby become mute if the anterior fontanelle is touched?

Some people say that touching the anterior fontanelle will make the baby mute. Is this statement correct? In fact, there is no scientific basis for this. Fontanelle is a normal phenomenon in the growth process of the human body. When you touch the anterior fontanelle with your hand, you may sometimes feel a pulsating feeling like a pulse. This is caused by the pulsation of subcutaneous blood vessels. There is nothing to be nervous about, and it is normal if you do not feel any pulsation. The fontanelle is also a window for observing diseases. If the fontanelle is full or bulging, it means that the baby has intracranial hypertension, such as meningitis, intracranial hemorrhage, brain tumor, etc.; if the fontanelle is too sunken, it may be caused by dehydration caused by insufficient food intake or long-term vomiting and diarrhea. When examining a baby, medical staff often touch the condition of the fontanelle to determine some diseases. So it is pure nonsense to say that if you touch the fontanelle your baby will become mute.

The various morphological changes of the anterior fontanelle will not only provide pediatricians and health care doctors with diagnostic conditions and clues, but also give the baby's parents some hints. Therefore, learning to observe the changes in the baby's anterior fontanelle is very helpful for caring for the baby.

1. Precocious closure: Microcephaly occurs due to the shrinkage or premature closure of the anterior fontanelle due to poor brain development, which may be related to chromosomal abnormalities, metabolic diseases, intrauterine infection, intrauterine malnutrition and other factors.

2. Delayed closure: Delayed closure of the anterior fontanelle may be due to vitamin D deficiency rickets, cretinism (also known as cretinism) or hydrocephalus (also known as ventricular hydrocephalus).

3. Bulging: Bulging of the anterior fontanelle may be caused by purulent meningitis, viral encephalitis or intracranial hemorrhage.