Patient's question:
When the child was born, the anterior fontanelle was jumping up and down. At about three and a half months, I took the child to the hospital for a physical examination. The doctor said that the child's anterior fontanelle had shown signs of premature closure. The child also has inwards turning feet, and has been undergoing calcium supplementation treatment. Additionally, the child has poor digestion. What should I do?Doctor's answer:
The closure of the fontanelle is a window reflecting brain development. If it closes six months ago, it indicates that the child may have microcephaly or poor brain development, but if it closes after 18 months, it is too late. Such children may suffer from hydrocephalus, rickets, and dementia. A bulging fontanelle indicates increased intracranial pressure, and the child may have meningitis, encephalitis, or vitamin A poisoning. Children with sunken fontanelles may be dehydrated and malnourished. If the fontanelle closes prematurely but the head circumference is still growing, there is no need to worry. If an abnormal closure of the fontanelle is detected, the child should be taken to the hospital immediately for further examination.