Misdiagnosis in a Child Presenting with Bulging Anterior Fontanel: Differential Diagnosis

KARACAN C. D., SENEL S., Erkek N., TAVIL B.

TURKIYE KLINIKLERI TIP BILIMLERI DERGISI, cilt.29, sa.4, ss.1029-1031, 2009 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 29 Sayı: 4
  • Basım Tarihi: 2009
  • Dergi Adı: TURKIYE KLINIKLERI TIP BILIMLERI DERGISI
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1029-1031
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Osteopetrosis, meningitis
  • Akdeniz Üniversitesi Adresli: Hayır

Özet

Fontanel bulging is an important clue in the diagnosis of meningitis. Subdural hematoma, bleeding secondary to whiplash or shaking baby, intracranial tumors, human herpes virus infection, maple syrup urine disease, urea cycle enzyme defects, vitamin A poisoning, pseudotumour cerebri, hypophosphatasia and diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccination are other causes for fontanel bulging. We reported a 6-month-old infant with osteopetrosis who had been treated with antibiotics due to presumptive diagnosis of meningitis because of marked fontanel bulging associated with fever. We aimed to remind physicians to be aware of causes of fontanel bulging other than meningitis to avoid misdiagnosis and its untoward consequences.