An abnormally reduced head circumference in a growing child. Head circumference is measured with a nonelastic tape and comprises the distance from above the eyebrows and ears and around the back of the head. The measured HC is then plotted on an appropriate growth chart. Microcephaly is defined as a head circumference (HC) that is great than two standard deviations below the mean of age- and gender-matched population based samples. Severe microcephaly is defined with an HC that is three standard deviations below the mean. The phenotype is Human Phenotype Ontology id HP_0040195 (Decreased head circumference).