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

Macrocephaly

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 pressure in the head (increased intracranial pressure) often occurs with increased head circumference. Symptoms of this condition include:

• Eyes moving downward
• Irritability
• Vomiting

See also: Bulging fontanelles

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

Images

Skull of a newborn

Next Section

Increased head circumference Treatment

Review Date: 05/01/2011
Reviewed By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)