SUNKEN FONTANEL
The fontanel is the soft spot on the top of a newborn baby's head. It is where the bones of his skull have still not formed completely. Normally it takes a year to a year and a half for the soft spot to close completely.
Mothers in different lands realize that when the soft spot sinks inward, their babies are in danger. They have many beliefs to explain this. In parts of Africa, mothers think the baby's brains have slipped downward. They try to correct this by pushing up on the roof of the mouth, by herbal remedies or by holding the baby upside down and slapping his feet. This does not help because, a sunken soft spot is really caused by dehydration.
This means the child is losing more liquid than he is drinking. He is too dry--usually because he has diarrhea, or diarrhea with vomiting.
Treatment:
1) Give the child plenty of liquid: Rehydration drink, breast milk, or boiled water.
2) If necessary, treat the causes of the diarrhea and vomiting. No medicine is usually needed.
NOTE: If the soft spot is swollen or bulges upwards, this may be a sign of meningitis. Begin treatment at once, and get medical help.
YOU ARE READING
Health Tips
Non-FictionContains lot of important notes that would teach readers alot about health Medical issues. A very helpful book indeed. Adapted from 'Where there is no Doctor'.
