The child would develop brain damage. Feeling the cranial sutures and fontanelles is one way that health care providers follow the child's growth and development. They are able to assess the pressure inside the brain by feeling the tension of the fontanelles. The fontanelles should feel flat and firm.
Bulging fontanelles may be a sign of increased pressure within the brain. In this case, providers may need to use imaging techniques to see the brain structure, such as CT scan or MRI scan.
Surgery may be needed to relieve the increased pressure. Sunken, depressed fontanelles are sometimes a sign of dehydration. Goyal NK. The newborn infant. In: Kliegman RM, St. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. There is a problem with information submitted for this request.
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A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Recinos says. There are actually two soft spots — one at the back of the head and another on top. This is often a sign of dehydration , she says.
It may occur if your child is sick and not getting enough fluids. A bulging fontanelle also might signal internal bleeding or a tumor or mass causing pressure in the head. Treatment for these conditions may include surgery to insert a shunt that relieves fluid buildup or to remove any underlying mass, Dr. Most of the time the soft spot is obvious, particularly on a newborn.
But at times it can seem to disappear quickly. But your pediatrician may suggest an imaging test to make sure the fontanelle is still open.
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