Final answer:
Cephalohematoma in a newborn is suggested by a localized swelling on the head that does not cross suture lines, occurring due to blood accumulation between the skull and periosteum. This is unlike more generalized swelling and is confined to the area above one of the cranial bones, not extending past the cranial suture lines.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sign that suggests cephalohematoma in a newborn is swelling on part of the head that does not cross suture lines. This swelling is due to blood accumulating between the skull and the periosteum. Unlike caput succedaneum, which can present as generalized swelling of the scalp, cephalohematoma involves only a part of the head. This condition generally appears within the first few hours to days after birth and is confined to the area above one of the cranial bones because the periosteum holds the bleeding in place. Unlike generalized swelling, cephalohematoma does not cross cranial suture lines.
Symptoms of early onset disease in newborns include temperature instability, apnea, bradycardia, hypotension, and difficulty feeding, among others. These symptoms can pose serious health risks if not treated properly.
Additional information about newborn health can provide context for the changes seen after birth. For example, a newborn's head is proportionally large compared to the rest of the body, and soft spots on the skull called fontanels allow it to change shape during birth, closing gradually thereafter. The fontanels and the special characteristics of a newborn's skull contribute to conditions such as cephalohematoma.