Increased head circumference

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Skull of a newborn

Increased head circumference is present when the measured distance around the widest part of the skull is larger than expected for the age and background of the child.

Macrocephaly

As a rule of thumb, a newborn's head is usually about 2 centimeters larger than the chest size. Between 6 months and 2 years, both measurements are about equal. After 2 years, the chest size becomes larger than the head.

A series of measurements over time that show an increased rate of head growth often can provide more valuable information than a single measurement that is larger than expected.

Increased intracranial pressure (increased pressure within the head) often accompanies increased head circumference. Symptoms associated with this condition include vomiting , eyes deviating downward, and irritability .

See also bulging fontanelles.

• Hydrocephalus (congenital, post-traumatic, or obstructive)
• Canavan disease
• Hurler syndrome
• Morquio syndrome
• Benign familial macrocephaly (family tendency toward large head size)
• Intracranial bleeding

Review Date: 12/01/2005
Reviewed By: Daniel Rauch, MD, FAAP, Director, Pediatric Hospitalist Program, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.