Final answer:
A bulging fontanelle is consistent with increased intracranial pressure in a child. This condition may lead to further complications and requires immediate medical attention. Other associated symptoms include seizures, stiff neck, hemiparesis, and opisthotonos.
Step-by-step explanation:
The finding consistent with increased intracranial pressure (ICP) in a child is C) Bulging fontanelle. When a child experiences increased ICP, it can cause the soft spots on their head, known as fontanels, to bulge outward. These areas, particularly the anterior (frontal) fontanel, are typically soft and flat in healthy infants and may occasionally pulsate with the baby's heartbeat. However, a noticeably bulging fontanelle can be a sign of increased pressure within the skull, warranting immediate medical attention. It could be indicative of conditions such as hydrocephalus, brain swelling, meningitis, or hemorrhage.
Increased ICP may also lead to other symptoms such as seizures, stiff neck, hemiparesis (weakness on one side of the body), and opisthotonos (a condition in which the body is rigid, with an arched back and head thrown backward), which can be fatal if not treated promptly. Contrastingly, a sunken fontanelle often suggests dehydration or malnutrition.