HESI (Health and Environmental Sciences Institute) Health Assessment Practice Test

When assessing an infant, which condition would NOT be indicated by tense or bulging fontanels?

1. Dehydration

2. Mental retardation

3. Rickets

4. Increased intracranial pressure

The correct answer is: Mental retardation

Tense or bulging fontanels in an infant are typically indicative of increased intracranial pressure, which can occur due to various medical conditions. Conditions such as dehydration can lead to a sunken appearance of fontanels, making them less likely to exhibit tension or bulging. Rickets, a condition caused by a deficiency of vitamin D, can also be associated with changes in fontanel tension, but is not specifically characterized by tense or bulging fontanels. Increased intracranial pressure, however, directly correlates with the presentation of tense or bulging in this area. In this context, mental retardation, now referred to as intellectual disability, is not associated with tense or bulging fontanels. Instead, it is a developmental condition that does not directly influence the tension of the fontanels. Therefore, indicating the absence of this condition in relation to tense or bulging fontanels makes it the correct choice in this question.