What is a bulging fontanel?

A fontanel, also called fontanelle, is more than usually known as a soft spot. When a infant'south built-in, they typically have several fontanels where bones of their skull haven't fused yet. A newborn has fontanels on the summit, dorsum, and sides of their caput.

Usually, merely the anterior fontanel, which is on the height of the head toward the front end, can exist seen and felt. This is the ane called the soft spot. In some babies, the posterior fontanel, which is found toward the back of the head, tin likewise exist felt, though it'south much smaller.

It's important for new parents to understand what a fontanel looks and feels like. A baby's soft spot should feel relatively soft and curve inward very slightly.

Changes in texture or advent tin can be a sign of serious health problems. Parents should sentry for soft spots that are curved outward on their baby's head and experience very firm. This is known as a bulging fontanel and may be a sign of brain swelling or fluid buildup in the brain.

A bulging fontanel is an emergency. It tin can be a sign of pressure rising inside the skull which may result in damage to the infant'south developing brain. If your child is experiencing this symptom, seek medical attention immediately.

What are the causes of a bulging fontanel?

Some of the most mutual causes of a bulging fontanel are:

  • encephalitis, which is a encephalon inflammation acquired by a viral or bacterial infection
  • hydrocephalus, which is backlog encephalon fluid that'due south nowadays at birth or occurs from injury or infection
  • meningitis, which is inflammation of the encephalon and spinal string tissue that results from a viral or bacterial infection
  • hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, which is brain swelling and harm that occurs when your babe's encephalon is deprived of oxygen for a long catamenia
  • intracranial hemorrhaging, which is bleeding in the encephalon
  • head trauma

Other Causes

A bulging fontanel may be attributed to additional conditions, along with numerous others, every bit possible causes:

  • a encephalon tumor or abscess
  • Lyme disease, which is a bacterial infection y'all get from an infected tick
  • Addison'due south illness, which is a condition in which your adrenal glands don't brand enough hormones for your body to function properly
  • congestive heart failure, which is when blood and fluid buildup in parts of your body because your heart tin can't pump enough claret
  • leukemia, which is cancer of the white claret cells
  • an electrolyte disturbance, which is when your claret'southward levels of certain chemicals, such every bit sodium and potassium, are out of residue
  • hyperthyroidism, which is when your thyroid makes more hormones than you lot need
  • maple syrup urine illness, which occurs when your body can't properly interruption down proteins
  • anemia, which is a status in which your blood doesn't comprise enough oxygen

In most cases of these conditions, a baby would have other symptoms in addition to a jutting fontanel and would most probable be ill.

Also, it would be very uncommon, if not rare, for whatever of these — except brain tumor or abscess — to cause a bulging fontanel, either considering the condition is rare in infancy or because the condition happens in infancy, merely rarely causes a jutting fontanel.

When should I seek medical care?

In that location are several factors that can brand a soft spot appear to be bulging when in reality at that place'south no danger. Common things babies practice such as lying down, vomiting, or crying tin can be mistaken for your baby having a bulging fontanel.

To determine whether your infant really has a jutting fontanel, starting time try to at-home them downward, and so position them so their head is upright. If you succeed in doing this and the soft spot still appears to be bulging, seek medical attention for your child immediately.

Don't look to make a doctor'south engagement. Go to the nearest emergency room. This is especially crucial if your baby has a fever or seems extremely sleepy.

If you don't already accept a pediatrician, the Healthline FindCare tool can help you observe one in your area.

What can happen if a bulging fontanel is not treated?

A jutting soft spot can be a sign of several very serious conditions that can even be life-threatening. For instance, encephalitis, a common cause of jutting fontanels, tin lead to permanent encephalon impairment or even decease in severe cases.

What to await at the infirmary

Because there can be many explanations for these symptoms, your doctor volition collect every bit much information as possible about your child's condition.

Your physician will perform a physical examination of your infant and will likely ask:

  • about your infant'southward medical history and any medications
  • whether the bulge is constant or appears normal at times
  • when you lot kickoff noticed the aberrant appearance of the soft spot

Be sure to tell your doctor about any other symptoms you've observed, including:

  • marked drowsiness
  • an elevated temperature
  • irritability across what's normal for your child

Depending on the answers you provide and other symptoms that may be nowadays, your dr. may gild one or more tests, such as an MRI or CT scan, to make a diagnosis.

Lumbar puncture, or a spinal tap, may also be performed. This involves taking a sample of cerebrospinal fluid from your baby's lower spine to check for disease and infection in their nervous system.

Treatment volition depend on the underlying crusade of your baby's symptoms.

Is there any way to preclude a bulging fontanel?

There's no definite way to prevent fontanels from bulging. This is mostly because the symptom has so many potential causes.

With available information, parents and other caregivers tin better understand this symptom. For example, it can help them distinguish between a soft spot that temporarily appears to be jutting and one that's protruding.

However, though information is available, it'due south important for parents and other caregivers to contact their child'due south doctor if they have questions or concerns about bulging fontanel.

Takeaway

A bulging fontanel is a medical emergency that requires a infirmary visit. Once there, your doctor can determine the potential causes as well as appropriate treatment measures.

While a bulging fontanel has specific characteristics, call your child'south pediatrician if you have any doubts.