Child development and growth Flashcards
What are the three key concepts in human development?
Growth: Increase in organ volume due to cell multiplication or reproduction.
Development: Acquisition of skills, abilities, and dexterity. Measured through standardized tests.
Maturation: Differentiation of structures and functions in an organ or system
Growth
Increase in organ volume due to cell multiplication or reproduction
Development
Acquisition of skills, abilities, and dexterity. Measured through standardized tests
Maturation
Differentiation of structures and functions in an organ or system
What is the role of the central nervous system (CNS) in development?
CNS maturation dictates developmental progress.
Development follows a caudocephalic order (from lower to upper body).
Reflexes and postural reactions emerge as the CNS matures
What are the five stages of human development?
Infant: Neonate to 1 year
Early childhood: 1 to 6 years
Middle childhood: 6 to 10 years
Adolescence: 10 to 18 years
Adulthood: 18+ years
What is the key developmental milestone in adolescence?
Puberty changes occur 2 years earlier in females.
Tanner staging is used to assess sexual maturity.
Major challenges: body image acceptance, independence, and identity formation
What are the gold-standard anthropometric measurements for growth assessment?
0 to 2 years: Weight, length, weight-for-height, head circumference
> 2 years: Weight, height, BMI
How is head circumference assessed?
Microcephaly: Below the 3rd percentile
Macrocephaly: Above the 97th percentile
What are the key growth velocity indicators?
Height:
- Prepubertal growth <4 cm/year is concerning.
- During puberty: 10-12 cm/year (boys), 8-10 cm/year (girls).
Weight:
- Prepubertal weight gain <1 kg/year is concerning.
- Pubertal weight gain can reach up to 8 kg/year
At what age does the head reach its adult size?
Approximately at 6 years old
What is the best predictor of cognitive function?
Language development between 1 and 3 years old
What are the most important milestones in early childhood?
Development of independence skills:
- Feeding, toileting, and dressing are major milestones.
By 3 years old, a child can have an independent existence
What is the clinical significance of a lack of a social smile at 4 weeks?
It is a red flag for cortical dysfunction
What are the main factors influencing growth and development?
Genetic factors: Primary role in development.
Fetal health: Any insult in utero can cause permanent developmental changes.
Environmental factors: Pollution and toxins can affect maturation.
Socioeconomic factors: Family education levels impact cognitive and emotional development.
Nutrition: Malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies (iron, zinc, iodine, etc.) can hinder development
What are the consequences of early malnutrition?
Iron deficiency: Affects psychomotor skills but not height.
Zinc deficiency: Causes growth retardation.
Rapid weight gain in childhood: Increases the risk of obesity in adulthood
How does excessive prenatal lead exposure affect a fetus?
It is significantly associated with low birth weight
How do early childhood experiences influence development?
Adverse experiences can hinder cognitive and emotional growth
At what age do primary and permanent teeth erupt?
Primary teeth: Central incisors appear at 6 months.
Absence of teeth by 13 months is a warning sign.
Permanent teeth: Start appearing at 6 years and continue until 18 years
How is bone maturity assessed?
Hand and wrist radiographs from 3 to 18 years are used to evaluate bone development
