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Increased head circumference

• Overview

Definition:

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.

Alternative Names:

Macrocephaly

Considerations:

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 .

Common Causes:

• 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: 12/1/2005
• 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.

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