Serum tumors in newborns: Causes, symptoms and treatment

Newborn babies' bodies are very weak, especially the brain and skull. Children's skulls, especially infants, are not as sturdy and fused as those of adults. They are made up of relatively soft bones that intersect in "seams". These bones will harden and bond together as the baby gets older. Because the fetal skull is still so soft, it is very easy to be damaged or affected, especially during childbirth, one of which is the neonatal serous tumor.

Have you heard of neonatal serous tumors? Do you know the cause of this condition? Is it dangerous for babies with serous tumors? Let's find out with aFamilyToday Health in the following article!

What is a serous tumor?

Caput succedaneum, also known as caput, refers to swelling or edema of a newborn's scalp that causes lumps or bumps to appear shortly after birth. This is usually harmless and resolves on its own as the child gets older. However, a baby with a serous tumor can also lead to other problems, such as jaundice.

Although there are similar symptoms, we should not confuse serous tumors with hematomas, a condition caused by bleeding under the skin.

Causes and risk factors for neonates with serous tumors

Serum bumps are often caused by external pressure on the surface of a baby's skull, causing swelling, bruising, and serous lump formation. These pressures can come from the vaginal wall and uterus during pregnancy and labor.

Blood tumors are also often formed by pressure from the mother's pelvis to the baby's skull during labor or from the use of birth support devices such as clamps ... However, this situation is different from serum tumors in that the Fluid usually forms deeper under the scalp and its composition is mainly blood from broken blood vessels.

Neither of these conditions always occurs due to specific risk factors, but sometimes they happen for no apparent reason during delivery. In fact, in rare cases, these phenomena can be acquired while still in the womb.

Both serous and hematoma can be identified on ultrasound in later pregnancy. These two types of tumors can form when a mother breaks down her water too soon. Amniotic fluid is known as a cushion for the fetus. The early rupture of amniotic fluid but the fetus is not able to leave the uterus can cause the baby's scalp to touch the mother's body and become swollen because there is no longer a protective cushion.

Blood tumors are also seen in the case of mothers with oliguria.

Risk factors for the development of serous tumors in infants are:

Labor is prolonged or difficult to deliver

Premature rupture of the amniotic fluid

The amount of amniotic fluid in the uterus is low

Childbirth for the first time

The uterine contractions physiological Braxton-Hicks

Certain positions of the fetus, eg head facing down

Many deliveries are with forceps or require some other specialized aids

However, when the tumor is formed by suction to remove the fetus, it is often referred to as "chignon" and is not a true serous tumor. Chignon disappears faster than a normal tumor, usually disappears after a few hours to a few days after the baby is born.

Tumors usually occur in the children of women with the following factors:

Have a son

First child born

Have a big baby because babies may be too large for the dilated size of the mother's uterus

Births require the use of supportive devices such as forceps or aspirators

Using the fetal scalp electrode method at birth

The process of labor is prolonged

This usually occurs in babies whose birth position is not favorable.

Symptoms of serous tumors in the newborn

Babies with serous lumps, after birth, parents may see swelling or bumps on their scalp. The swelling is usually located at the back of the top of the head because this is where the mother's pelvis and uterus are most exposed. At this time, if you touch the hump, it will make your child feel pain. Another symptom of caput is the bruising on the scalp. In some cases, bruises also appear on the child's face.

Newborn babies with hematomas may develop a bump (no bruising) on ​​the scalp within a few days of birth. At that time, this area was quite sensitive.

During normal delivery, there is overlapping pressure on the fetal skull, especially at the top of the skull. This can distort the baby's head, as such a phenomenon is often referred to as fetal correction.

Complications of neonatal seroma

Usually, a serous tumor resolves on its own without any complications. However, sometimes complications occur such as:

Hair loss: Due to the pressure placed on the scalp, some surrounding tissue can die and cause hair loss. In most cases, the hair will grow back to normal. There are exceptions, however, where hair can fall out permanently without regrowth.

Jaundice: In some cases bruising may develop. This condition can occur due to the rupture of red blood cells, leading to an accumulation of bilirubin. This causes babies to experience jaundice and whites of the eyes.

If it's severe or left untreated, jaundice can lead to more complications. These complications include:

Brain damage

Hearing loss

Athetoid cerebral palsy, movement disorders

Development of abnormal tooth enamel

Eyes look up forever

Dead.

In some cases, head hematoma can cause complications, such as:

Cracked skull

Make the bump harder

Infection

Anemia

Jaundice (more common than thrombotic tumors).

How is neonatal seroma diagnosed?

Serum tumors are often identified by physical examination and do not require additional tests. When necessary, the doctor will recommend performing more specialized tests to evaluate the baby's situation more specifically.

In some cases of hematoma, the child's skull may appear cracks. So need to conduct X-rays to assess the situation of the skull the most accurately.

Methods for the treatment of serous tumors in infants

Caput usually resolves on its own without intervention within a few days after birth. Meanwhile, without other risk factors or complications, the hematoma may go away on its own within 2-6 weeks after birth.

In some cases, a hematoma can cause other complications, such as an infection, medication and surgery may be required. However, if the hemangioma becomes firm, it may also go away after a while.

Another treatment is helmet therapy. In this method, babies are put on a specially shaped hat for 18 - 20 hours a day until their heads return to the desired shape. However, this method is also rarely used.

Many mothers who breastfeed feel anxiety and panic when they see a newborn having a serous tumor on the head. Hope this article will help you feel relieved and understand more about this situation of your baby. However, mothers should not be subjective. Take your baby to the doctor early to be monitored and controlled for dangerous complications that can affect their health.