When assessing an infant with hydrocephalus, which clinical manifestation should the nurse expect to find?

When assessing an infant with hydrocephalus, the expectation of separation of cranial sutures as a clinical manifestation is based on the nature of the condition. Hydrocephalus is characterized by an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles of the brain, leading to increased intracranial pressure. This pressure causes the skull to expand since the sutures in an infant's skull have not yet fully fused.

As the fluid accumulates, the normal growth and development of the brain can stretch the bones of the skull apart, resulting in the separation of cranial sutures. This finding can be a key indicator of hydrocephalus, especially in infants whose skulls are still flexible. The head may also appear abnormally large for the infant's age, a condition which aligns with the diagnosis.

In contrast, increased muscle tone, decreased head circumference, and fever do not typically correlate with hydrocephalus. Increased muscle tone may suggest other neurological issues rather than the presence of excess CSF. Decreased head circumference would not align with hydrocephalus, as the condition results in an enlarged head. A fever, while potentially present in some cases due to infection, is not a direct manifestation of hydrocephal