Patient's question:
The baby is just 1.5 years old, with a head circumference of 48 cm and a chest circumference of 47 cm. Is a smaller chest circumference indicating poor internal organ development? How should I treat it? The child is 86 cm tall and weighs 21 pounds (always lean, eating no less than other children). The trace element test shows lead at 116, with everything else normal, but the suture lines of the skull are uneven and slightly high. What kind of help is needed: How should I address the issues of a chest circumference smaller than the head circumference, lead not meeting the standard, and the high skull suture lines?Doctor's answer:
Head circumference growth is related to brain and skull growth. During fetal development, brain growth leads all other systems, so at birth, head circumference is relatively large, averaging 32-34 cm. Similar to weight and length growth, the increase in head circumference during the first three months of life (6 cm) is approximately equal to the increase over the next nine months (6 cm), meaning that by one year of age, head circumference is about 46 cm. After birth, head circumference growth slows down to about 2 cm in the second year. Weight is slightly lower, which may be related to poor nutrition and lead poisoning. If there are protrusions in the skull, it should be checked whether the fontanelles are closing prematurely.