Growth and Growth charts Flashcards
What are the 3 different types of growth?
- Infancy (birth to 2-years-old)
- Childhood (3 to 11-years-old)
- Puberty (12 to 18-years-old)
When does infancy growth occur?
Birth to 2-years-old)
When does childhood growth occur?
3 to 11-years-old
When does puberty growth occur?
12 to 18-years-old
What factors can affect fetal growth?
- environmental
- placental
- hormonal
- genetic: predominately maternal
What is the most important factor affecting fetal growth?
Environment- maternal nutrition and uterine capacity
What are the main drivers of growth in infancy?
Nutrition and insulin
What are the main drivers of growth in childhood?
Growth hormone and thyroxine
What are the main drivers of growth in puberty?
Growth hormone and sex steroid
What is the most important determinant of adult height?
Genetics
How many recordings of weight should infants aged 0-1 years have?
At least 5 recordings of weight
How many recordings of weight should infants aged 1-2 years have?
Children aged 1-2 years should have at least 3 recordings of weight
How many recordings of weight should infants aged over 2 years have?
Children older than 2 years should have annual recording of weight
What is the management of a child below the second decile for height?
children below 2nd centile for height should be reviewed by their GP
What is the management of a child below the 0.4 decile for height?
Children below 0.4th centile for height should be reviewed by a paediatrician
What are growth charts used for?
To plot a child’s weight, height and head circumference against the normal distribution for their age and gender.
What is on the x-axis of a growth chart?
Age
What is on the y-axis of a growth chart?
The weight, height and head circumference
What do centiles indicate?
Where a child’s growth compares to the normal distribution for their age and sex.
Are the centiles the same for boys and girls?
No
What would it mean if a child was on the 50th centile?
She is basically exactly average height for her age
What would it mean if a child was on the 1st centile?
They are shorter than 99% of children his age
What would it mean if a child was on the 91st centile?
They are taller than 91% of children her age
What is overweight defined as?
A body mass index (BMI) above the 85th percentile
What is obese defined as?
A body mass index (BMI) above the 95th percentile.
