Mesocephaly to Brachycephaly shift as seen in Punjabi children.

ABSTRACT

Anthropometric Parameters are useful tools in evaluating growth and development. Cephalic Index helps in estimation of intracranial volume in vivo & thus the brain growth. This prospective longitudinal study was initiated to compare the ethnic variations in cephalic index in specific defined ethnic groups of Punjab Jat Sikh and Bania infants. It was observed that Jatsikh infants had a brachycephalic type of skull throughout the study whereas Bania infants displayed mesocephalic type of skull till 7th month of their lives and later on even they became brachycephalic in their skull shapes. It is apparent that the trend in replacing mesocephaly by brachycephaly in northern Indian children, wherein possibly Jatsikh children are ahead of Bania children in this process.