Bulging Fontanelle: Causes & Reasons

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Possible Causes for Bulging Fontanelle

Brain Abscess

fontanelle (the soft spot located on the top of a baby’s head). [upmc.com]

Bulging fontanelle in infants. Differential diagnosis Meningitis. Encephalitis. Brain tumour or other intracranial space-occupying lesion. [patient.info]

[…] muscle function Seizures Decreased sensation Trouble with speech Symptoms of brain abscess in babies and young children include high-pitched cries, poor feeding, and full or bulging [upmc.com]

Bacterial Meningitis

As the abscesses grow, pressure on the brain increases (called intracranial pressure), resulting in vomiting, head enlargement, and bulging fontanelles. [merckmanuals.com]

fontanelles in babies Decreased alertness Poor feeding or irritability in children Rapid breathing Unusual posture, with the head and neck arched backward ( opisthotonos [medlineplus.gov]

In about 33 to 50% of newborns with meningitis, increased pressure of the fluid around the brain may make the fontanelles (the soft spots between the skull bones) bulge or [merckmanuals.com]

Communicating Hydrocephalus

Physical examination can reveal an enlarged head (macrocephaly) and a bulging, prominent fontanelle. [symptoma.com]

Communicating Hydrocephalus Picture – Showing Bulging fontanel, Lateral ventricle, Third ventricle, Aqueduct of Sylvius and the Fourth ventricle. [heydoctor.org]

fontanelle Setting-sun sign: Characteristic of increased intracranial pressure (ICP); downward deviation of the ocular globes, retracted upper lids, visible white sclerae [emedicine.medscape.com]

Obstructive Hydrocephalus

In infants and neonates, a disproportionate head growth, bulging fontanelles, markedly wider separation of the cranial sutures, and paresis of upward gaze (the "setting sun [symptoma.com]

Manifestations can include enlarged head, bulging fontanelle, irritability, lethargy, vomiting, and seizures. [msdmanuals.com]

In infants with hydrocephalus, the symptoms are an abnormally enlarged head circumference, a tense and bulged fontanelle, a conspicuous eye position, the so-called sundown [uniklinik-freiburg.de]

Hemophilus Meningitis

Incubation period unknown, 2 - 4 days probably Signs and Symptoms Fever Vomiting Headache Lethargy Bulging fontanelle in infants Progressive stupor or coma is common Stiff [deputyprimeminister.gov.mt]

Babies with meningitis may have drowsiness, poor feeding, bulging fontanelles (the soft spot on the top of a baby’s head) and high fever. [healthywa.wa.gov.au]

fontanelle Symptoms of epiglottitis Fever Breathing difficulty Noisy breathing Difficulty swallowing Drooling A child with epiglottitis may sit with an extended neck and [immune.org.nz]

Meningococcal Meningitis

fontanelles in infants Decreased consciousness Poor feeding or irritability in children Rapid breathing Unusual posture with the head and neck arched backwards ( opisthotonus [ufhealth.org]

[…] purpura ) Rash, pinpoint red spots ( petechiae ) Sensitivity to light ( photophobia ) Severe headache Stiff neck Other symptoms that can occur with this disease: Agitation Bulging [medlineplus.gov]

Bulging fontanelle. Late features Confusion* or delirium. Seizures. Unconsciousness. [patient.info]

Subdural Effusion

Clinical, infants Bulging fontanelle, widened sutures, increased head circumference, persistent fever, increased intracranial pressure, leading to vomiting, seizures. [medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com]

Symptoms may include: Outward curving of a baby's soft spot ( bulging fontanelle ) Abnormally wide spaces in the bony joints of a baby's skull ( separated sutures ) Increased [nlm.nih.gov]

H influenzae meningitis Clinical, infants Bulging fontanelle, widened sutures, ↑ head circumference, persistent fever, ↑ intracranial pressure → vomiting, seizures Management [medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com]

Subdural Empyema

fontanelle, seizures DIFFERENTIAL Epidural abscess - not as ill, rare nuchal rigidity Cerebral abscess - chronic course, rare nuchal rigidity SDH - no contrast enhancement [learnneurosurgery.com]

Bulging fontanelle in infants. Differential diagnosis Meningitis. Encephalitis. Brain tumour or other intracranial space-occupying lesion. [patient.info]

On examination, the infant was pyrexial at 39°C, tachycardic with a capillary refill time of 4 seconds and a bulging anterior fontanelle. [casesjournal.biomedcentral.com]

Listerial Meningitis

In young babies, doctors may also look for a bulging fontanelle (soft spot on infant’s head) or abnormal reflexes. [cdc.gov]

Pneumococcal Meningitis

fontanelles in infants Decreased consciousness Poor feeding or irritability in children Rapid breathing Unusual posture, with the head and neck arched backwards ( opisthotonos [nlm.nih.gov]

Young babies may present with poor feeding, irritability, lethargy, vomiting, fever, and a bulging anterior fontanel. [symptoma.com]

[…] chills Mental status changes Nausea and vomiting Sensitivity to light ( photophobia ) Severe headache Stiff neck Other symptoms that can occur with this disease: Agitation Bulging [nlm.nih.gov]

Kernicterus

fontanel (soft spot) Seizures Late stage: High-frequency hearing loss Intellectual disability Muscle rigidity Speech difficulties Seizures Movement disorder Exams and Tests [nicklauschildrens.org]

The affected baby may then develop a high-pitched cry, hypertonia of extensor muscles with arched back and hyperextended neck, bulging fontanelle and seizures. [patient.info]

fontanelles, pulmonary hemorrhage chronic: hearing damage, strabismus, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, death Conjugated (direct) bilirubin cannot enter the brain and [sharinginhealth.ca]

Subdural Hematoma

[…] walking Headache Lack of energy or confusion Seizures or loss of consciousness Nausea and vomiting Weakness or numbness Vision problems In infants, symptoms may include: Bulging [nlm.nih.gov]

fontanelles (the soft spots of the baby's skull) Separated sutures (the areas where growing skull bones join) Feeding problems Seizures High-pitched cry, irritability Increased [nlm.nih.gov]

Syphilitic Meningitis

We report a neonate who presented at 60 hours of life w ith irritability, poor activity, seizures and bulging fontanel. [content.iospress.com]

Staphylococcus Aureus Meningitis

fontanelles in infants Decreased alertness Poor feeding or irritability in children Rapid breathing Unusual posture, with the head and neck arched backwards ( opisthotonos [medlineplus.gov]

Stiff neck (generally not present in children under the age of one year or in patients with altered mental state), back rigidity, bulging fontanelle (in infants), photophobia [patient.info]

[…] head LATE � Lethargy � Unilateral or bilateral 6th nerve palsy � Transtentorial or transforaminal syndromes � Lethargy or hyperirritability � Failure to thrive, vomiting � Bulging [atsu.edu]

Brain Edema

fontanel absent signs of ICP and intelligence may be spared. [quizlet.com]

[…] produce an increase in ICP but may result in dementia and gait changes Hydrocephalus in utero or in newborn Ventricles expand, cranial sutures separate, head expands, with bulging [quizlet.com]

Head Trauma

Injury. 2016 Nov;47(11):2424-2441. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2016.09.004. Epub 2016 Sep 3. Author information 1 Université de Strasbourg, UNISTRA-CNRS, ICube UMR 7357, 2 Rue Boussingault, 67000 Strasbourg, France. Electronic address: deb4uinl@gmail.com. 2 Royal Military Academy-Department of Weapons Systems and Ballistics-30[…] [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Brain Laceration

The ICD 9 Code for Other and unspecified cerebral laceration and contusion, without mention of open intracranial wound, unspecified state of consciousness is listed as 851.80. Additional information concerning this code and description can be found below including ICD 10 crosswalks / GEMS, and chapter information[…] [emedcodes.com]

Urea Cycle Disorder

Urea cycle disorder (UCD) is an inborn error of the metabolic pathway producing urea from ammonia, which occurs primarily in the liver. Decreased excretion of nitrogen in the urea cycle due to deficiency of carbamoyl phosphate synthase I (CPSI), ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC), argininosuccinate synthase (ASS),[…] [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Rickets

Pan Afr Med J. 2018 May 4;30:9. doi: 10.11604/pamj.2018.30.9.14762. eCollection 2018. Author information 1 Endocrinology Diabetology and Metabolic Diseases Department of the Mohammed "V" Military Hospital, Rabat, Morocco. Abstract Rickets are abnormalities of mineralization that can lead to bone fractures and deformities.[…] [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Leptospiral Meningitis

Leptospirosis is a widespread zoonotic disease characterised by headache and fever. These symptoms are often suggestive of meningitis, but only a proportion of patients have leptospiral meningitis. We report episodes of leptospiral meningitis in patients admitted to a tertiary referral centre in the Netherlands, in[…] [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Tularemic Meningitis

Tularemia meningitis is a distinctly rare entity with only 14 cases reported in the literature, half of which occurred prior to 1950. In this case we provide the first description of cerebral microabscesses which occurred as a complication of tularemia meningitis. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Infantile Posthemorrhagic Hydrocephalus

Posthemorrhagic Hydrocephalus

Enf Infec Microbiol 2007; 27 (3) Quintana RG, Sánchez HG, Chávez WF, Rodríguez JH, Solórzano SF Idioma: Español Referencias bibliográficas: 16 Paginas: 75-82 Archivo PDF: 149.82 Kb. RESUMEN Objetivo: Realizar un estudio, en el hospital, de las complicaciones que se han asociado al uso de catéter único para derivación[…] [medigraphic.com]

Plague Meningitis

Quickly and decisively manage any medical emergency you encounter in the great outdoors with Wilderness Medicine! World-renowned authority and author, Dr. Paul Auerbach, and a team of experts offer proven, practical, visual guidance for effectively diagnosing and treating the full range of emergencies and health[…] [books.google.de]

Hydrocephalus

Manifestations can include enlarged head, bulging fontanelle, irritability, lethargy, vomiting, and seizures. [merckmanuals.com]

Preoperative clinical parameters, including head circumference, bulging fontanelle, and coagulopathy, were not significantly associated with development of MIPH. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Hydrocephalus that develops only after the fontanelles have closed does not increase head circumference or cause the fontanelle to bulge but can markedly and rapidly increase [merckmanuals.com]

Meningitis

fontanel. [orpha.net]

Know the Symptoms Arching of the back (infants) Behavioural changes Blank, staring expression Bulging fontanelle (infants) Cold hands and feet Diarrhoea Dislike of being handled [meningitis.com.au]

[…] stiffness and photophobia are often absent in infants and young children who may manifest nonspecific signs such as irritability, inconsolable crying, poor feeding, and a bulging [orpha.net]

Neonatal Meningitis

Findings of a full or bulging fontanelle are not uncommon. Some patients may present with nuchal rigidity or hydrocephalus. [symptoma.com]

The newborn may not have a bulging fontanelle or a stiff neck. [calsprogram.org]

Upon admission the infant was more alert and appeared hungry, but still was irritable and had a bulging fontanelle. [pediatriceducation.org]

Haemophilus Influenzae Pneumonia

fontanelle Symptoms of epiglottitis Fever Breathing difficulty Noisy breathing Difficulty swallowing Drooling A child with epiglottitis may sit with an extended neck and [immune.org.nz]

fontanelle (or soft spot) Behavior changes Is often resistant to bend their neck when trying to play with or pick up a toy The symptoms of H. influenzae infection may resemble [chop.edu]

Fever, loss of appetite, vomiting Drowsiness, headache, sensitivity to bright light, neck stiffness Signs may be vague and non-specific in young infants; they may have a bulging [immune.org.nz]

Ventricular Hemorrhage

Dehydration and signs and symptoms of infection What to expect in a bulging fontanel of a baby with IVH -Some babies may or may not have bulging fontanel with a sever bleed [quizlet.com]

fontanel 6) High pitched cry 7) Absent Moro reflex 8. 8) Seizures 9) A sudden drop in hematocrit 10) Failure to suck well 11) Change in muscle tone or level of consciousness [slideshare.net]

This is accompanied by falling hematocrit, bulging fontanelle, systemic hypotension, bradycardia, temperature instability, metabolic acidosis, glucose abnormalities. [utmb.edu]

Aqueduct of Sylvius Anomaly

Manifestations can include enlarged head, bulging fontanelle, irritability, lethargy, vomiting, and seizures. [merckmanuals.com]

In the infant enlarging head size, bulging fontanelles and gaping cranial sutures are seen. Setting sun phenomenon may also be present. [radiopaedia.org]

fontanelle, ↑ head circumference, irritability, lethargy • DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST • • Consider • Shunt + headache does not always mean shunt failure – Consider sinusitis, trauma [slideshare.net]