Question
Yesterday, my baby was 45 days old, but the jaundice hadn’t receded, and the index was 16! I was very worried, so I took the baby to get blood tests to check for abnormalities. The baby was taken to the newborn room for the blood test and the parents were not allowed in. I heard the baby crying during the blood test! After the blood test, I noticed that two dents had been pressed into the baby’s fontanelle! I was shocked! Then, two hours later, it recovered itself. I don’t know how much pressing the fontanelle affects the child? Medical staff should have common sense, everyone knows that a child’s fontanelle should not be touched. Seeing such deep scars on the baby’s fontanelle, I am worried whether it will affect the child’s intelligence and brain?
Answer
Generally speaking, an infant’s fontanelle is not fully calcified in the first few months after birth and has some elasticity. Normally, slight touches or pressures usually do not cause serious harm to the infant. However, if excessive force is applied to the fontanelle, it may sometimes result in minor bruising or swelling. Usually, these conditions will resolve on their own within a few days and do not require special treatment. But if there is persistent swelling, redness, or bleeding after injury to the fontanelle, or if the infant exhibits abnormal symptoms such as vomiting, drowsiness, or decreased appetite, medical attention should be sought immediately. Additionally, the size of an infant’s fontanelle and its closure time vary from person to person. If you are concerned about the normal state of the fontanelle, you can also consult a doctor. Generally speaking, it is normal for an infant’s fontanelle to close within 18 months.