Locations Main Campus: Chesterfield, MO 63017   |   Locations
314-434-1500 314-434-1500   |   Contact Us

Multimedia Encyclopedia

BACK
TO
TOP
 
E-mail Form
Email Results

 
 
Print-Friendly
Bookmarks
bookmarks-menu

Fontanelles - bulging

Soft spot - bulging; Bulging fontanelles

 

A bulging fontanelle is an outward curving of an infant's soft spot (fontanelle).

Considerations

 

The skull is made up of many bones, 8 in the skull itself and 14 in the face area. They join together to form a solid, bony cavity that protects and supports the brain. The areas where the bones join together are called the sutures.

The bones are not joined together firmly at birth. This allows the head to change shape to help it pass through the birth canal. The sutures get minerals added to them over time and harden, firmly joining the skull bones together.

In an infant, the space where two 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. They are located mainly at the top, back, and sides of the head. Like the sutures, fontanelles harden over time and become closed, solid bony areas.

  • The fontanelle in the back of the head (posterior fontanelle) most often closes by the time an infant is 1 to 2 months old.
  • The fontanelle at the top of the head ( anterior fontanelle) most often closes between 7 to 19 months.

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.

When the infant is crying, lying down, or vomiting, the fontanelles may look like they are bulging. However, they should return to normal when the infant is in a calm, head-up position.

 

Causes

 

  • Encephalitis . Swelling (inflammation) of the brain, most often due to infections.
  • Hydrocephalus . A buildup of fluid inside the skull.
  • Increased intracranial pressure
  • Meningitis . Infection of the membranes covering the brain.

 

Home Care

 

If the fontanelle returns to normal appearance when the child is calm and head-up, it is not a truly bulging fontanelle.

 

When to Contact a Medical Professional

 

Immediate, emergency care is needed for any infant who has a truly bulging fontanelle, especially if it occurs along with fever or excess drowsiness.

 

What to Expect at Your Office Visit

 

The provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions about the child's medical history, such as:

  • Does the "soft spot" return to normal appearance when the infant is calm or head-up?
  • Does it bulge all the time or does it come and go?
  • When did you first notice this?
  • Which fontanelles bulge (top of the head, back of the head, or other)?
  • Are all the fontanelles bulging?
  • What other symptoms are present (such as fever , irritability , or lethargy )?

Diagnostic tests that may be done are:

  • CT scan of the head
  • MRI scan of the head
  • Spinal tap ( lumbar puncture )

 

 

Open References

References

Carlo W. The newborn infant. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics . 19th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2011:chap 88.

 
  • Skull of a newborn

    Skull of a newborn - illustration

    The "sutures" or anatomical lines where the bony plates of the skull join together can be easily felt in the newborn infant. The diamond shaped space on the top of the skull and the smaller space further to the back are often referred to as the "soft spot" in young infants.

    Skull of a newborn

    illustration

  • Bulging fontanelles

    Bulging fontanelles - illustration

    A tense or bulging fontanelle occurs when fluid accumulates in the skull cavity or when pressure increases in the brain. Common causes are hydrocephalus or increased intracranial pressure due to illness.

    Bulging fontanelles

    illustration

    • Skull of a newborn

      Skull of a newborn - illustration

      The "sutures" or anatomical lines where the bony plates of the skull join together can be easily felt in the newborn infant. The diamond shaped space on the top of the skull and the smaller space further to the back are often referred to as the "soft spot" in young infants.

      Skull of a newborn

      illustration

    • Bulging fontanelles

      Bulging fontanelles - illustration

      A tense or bulging fontanelle occurs when fluid accumulates in the skull cavity or when pressure increases in the brain. Common causes are hydrocephalus or increased intracranial pressure due to illness.

      Bulging fontanelles

      illustration

    Self Care

     

      Tests for Fontanelles - bulging

       
         

        Review Date: 2/5/2015

        Reviewed By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

        The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

         
         
         

         

         

        A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.



        Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.