Question
A 21-month-old baby played with a plastic tube around the anterior fontanelle, resulting in red marks and indentations from the tube. The parents are concerned whether this behavior could affect the baby’s intellectual and brain development.
Answer
The indentation in the baby’s fontanelle is due to dehydration. The baby had an upper respiratory infection, and the parents took him for ice skating and a hot bath, which led to excessive sweating and body dehydration. These actions by the parents may have exacerbated the baby’s discomfort, and simply reducing swelling does not solve the problem.