When should the fontanel overgrow? Photo: Getty
When should the fontanelle grow
The fontanel on the head of a newborn is called soft.plot of the skull, covered with neostostevennoy cartilage tissue. Its hardening is called overgrowth of the fontanel. Although on the head of a newborn we see one spring - the frontal, but in fact there are only 6. The small occipital and four temporal springs are usually closed by the time of birth or during the first month of life. The role of a large frontal fontanel is to protect the baby’s head from damage when passing through the birth canal and to allow the brain to fully develop without restricting it to the firm bones of the skull, at least in the first stage of a person’s life. In addition, a large spring is involved in the thermoregulation of the brain. Over time, the process of natural regulation improves and the frontal fontanel closes by 12–18 months of life. But all terms are strictly individual. Later or early closure is normal for a particular baby. The local doctor monitors the condition and size of the fontanel.
What to do if the fontanel badly grows
If the question of slowing the fontaneldisturbs - address to the neurologist. He will examine the baby, if necessary, conduct an ultrasound of the brain and dispel your doubts. If after the tests, the doctor found violations, then they may be due to: - genetic predisposition - the most harmless cause, which does not give cause for serious concern; - rickets or lack of solar vitamin D, which directly affects the calcium content in the body. His absence affects the quality of the bone tissue of the child. The curvature of the legs leads to a change in gait. In this case, prophylactic vitamin D is prescribed; - hydrocephalus - an excess of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. At the same time, intracranial pressure rises, the activity of the fundus vessels is disturbed. The child does not sleep well, there are tearfulness, signs of muscular dystonia. There is a rapid increase in the size of the head with the probability of divergence of the cranial sutures. Slow tightening the fontanel can not become one hundred percent symptom of a disease. It is necessary to monitor its shape, but it is better to pay attention to the resizing of the head. See also:
