A sunken fontanel can be caused by normal physiologic conditions or pathologic conditions such as dehydration, malnutrition, or congenital developmental abnormalities.
1. Physiological condition: If the sunken fontanel is only slightly sunken and the baby does not have any other abnormal symptoms, it is usually a normal physiological condition.
2. Pathological conditions: A sunken fontanel can be caused by dehydration, which can occur when the infant has diarrhea or vomiting;
A sunken fontanel can also be caused by a chronic malnutrition such as calcium deficiency. A sunken fontanel may also occur if the infant has a congenital developmental abnormality such as cretinism.
There may be other causes of sunken fontanel in infants. It is recommended to go to the hospital in time for a complete examination and treatment with the help of the doctor to identify the cause of the problem.