This part of the body is sunken and life-threatening

Many of my friends will learn from the barber where they have a scar on their head, or find out that there is a pit in a certain place when they have their hair cut. Many friends also find a big hole on their head when combing or washing their hair. Let’s take a look at it below.

When a baby is born, there are two boneless "windows" on the top of his head, which are medically called "fontanelles". The posterior fontanelle usually closes 3 months after birth, while the anterior fontanelle does not close until 1 and a half years old. The "skylight" or "fontanelle" that people often refer to mainly refers to the anterior fontanelle. The surface of the fontanelle is the scalp, underneath it is the meninges, and then the brain and cerebrospinal fluid. Place your finger gently on the fontanelle and you can feel the beating. That is because the cerebrospinal pressure changes with the heart beat and blood pressure, which is consistent with the pulse. When a normal baby is sitting, the fontanelle is slightly sunken.

The cerebrospinal fluid in the skull is constantly exchanged with the body's blood and tissue fluid to maintain balance. When the body loses more water, the cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles will also decrease, the pressure will decrease, and the fontanelle will become noticeably sunken. If an infant develops this symptom after vomiting or diarrhea, it means that the body is already moderately dehydrated and must be replenished with water in time. Otherwise, due to the infant's poor natural adjustment ability and insufficient tolerance, circulatory failure may occur, which is life-threatening. Extremely thin infants with severe malnutrition due to improper feeding may also have a sunken fontanelle, and at this time, they need to strengthen nutrition and feed properly.

Infants grow very rapidly, and their bones need vitamin D and calcium for development. If not supplemented in time, it is easy to suffer from rickets. The fontanelle fails to close 18 months after birth, resulting in a "square skull" deformity and the skull feels like a ping-pong ball shell (craniomalacia). In addition, deformities such as beaded bones, pigeon chest, and "O" or "X" shaped legs may also occur.

For a few babies, when they are 5-6 months old, the fontanelle is only the size of a finger and seems to be about to close, but in fact it has not ossified. This is not premature closure. As long as the head circumference is no less than 33-34 cm at birth, no less than 46 cm at 1 year old, and no less than 47 cm-48 cm at 2 years old, it is normal and there is no need to worry.

Just like I said above, many times we don’t notice a scar on our collar or a hole on our head, most of the time we discover it accidentally. At this time, if we can definitely rule out the possibility that it is not caused by external factors, then I still suggest that you go to the hospital for a check-up.