head circumference
Information, Symptoms, Treatments and Resources
Head circumference is a measurement of a child’s head around its largest area -- it measures the distance from above the eyebrows and ears and around the back of the head.
During routine check-ups, the distance is measured in centimeters and compared with previous measurements; normal ranges are based on sex and age (weeks, months).
Measurement of the head circumference is an important part of routine well baby care. Through years of collecting measurements, values for normal growth rates of infants and young children's heads have been obtained. During the well baby exam, a deviation from the expected normal head growth may alert the doctor of a possible problem.
For example, a head that is larger than normal or whose size is increasing faster than normal may be an indication of increased intracranial pressure (there are multiple causes for this condition including head injury, meningitis, water on the brain, or bleeding within the skull). An exceptionally small head size (called microcephaly) or very slow growth rate may indicate that the brain is not developing properly.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. � 1997- 2008 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
