Caida de la mollera
Caida de la mollera is synonymous with "fallen fontanel" of an infant's skull.
The actual cause can be any illness resulting extreme loss of the infant's body weight. Caida de la mollera is frequently considered to be a sign of maternal neglect. The belief is that the fontanel is pulled down by suction which is caused when the infant is pulled too suddenly off of the nipple (mother's or bottle). It is also attributed to a sudden bump or fall.
Traditional "cures" include pressing upward on the soft palate in an attempt to reshape the affected area, sucking on the outside of the fontanel, and holding the baby upside down, sometimes gently shaking and tapping the feet. Other treatments include the application of various poultices and linaments.
Other Resources
- Mollera caida
- Caida de mollera: A Newborn and Early Infancy Health Risk
- Folk Remedies and Child Abuse: A Review With Emphasis on Caida de Mollera and Its Relationship to Shaken Baby Syndrome

Comments? Questions? Contact Us
©2009 MedicalSpanish.com
All Rights Reserved