• One of the most important parameters, especially in the first 2 years of baby’s life
• It is also known as the Occipito-Frontal diameter
• Occipito is the posterior-most part of the brain( Above neck) and frontal is the area above the eyebrows.
• Regular measurement is very important.Ask your GP/Paediatrician to plot in the graph or you can do it yourself (Graph is as below)
• Each measurement is to be plotted on a graph.( Age of child in ‘X’ axis/ Measurement in centimetre in ‘Y’ axis.
• The measurement is an important clinical sign which helps measure the neurology (Brain) function.
• If the head circumference changes from one centile to another on the graph, ( Crosses from one wave either above or below) it needs to be evaluated and followed up by a paediatrician.

Most common causes of variation in head circumference

• Infections
• Any mass in the head
• Lastly Familial ( if the parents have small/ large head)-It is diagnosis of exclusion

Methods to evaluate the head

• Ultrasound Head( relatively safe)
• MRI/ CT- based on diagnosis.