Rare diseases · Sign or symptom
Persistent open anterior fontanelle
HP:0004474
What it means
The anterior fontanelle generally ossifies by around the 18th month of life. A persistent open anterior fontanelle is diagnosed if closure is delayed beyond this age.
Rare diseases that can present with this4
Very common80–99%
3The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.
Part of the broader category
Also called: Anterior fontanelle open in adults · Front fontanelle stays open · Persistent, open anterior fontanel
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Start free with EleplanThis page uses the Human Phenotype Ontology (2026-06-23) — Human Phenotype Ontology Consortium, hpo.jax.org. Disease associations from Orphanet (INSERM), CC BY 4.0. Content is educational and is not medical advice.