Unit 2

Question 1

Z score calculation

Answer 1

Measured value - Average value in reference population / SD of reference population
Example:
Median weight = 10.2kg
SD = 0.8
weight of girl = 8kg
Z score = (8 - 10.2) / 0.8 = -2.75 (concerning value)
*important to take age into account

Question 2

Why plot on a growth chart?

Answer 2

• Compare a child weight, height or head circumference with other healthy children of same age
• track growth overtime
• normal growth = important indicator of health, so growth should be assessed regularly

Question 3

NZ growth charts

Answer 3

Growing normally: track the pannell to centile lines
- If track up/down by 2 or more inter-centile spaces (weight) or one or more (height) = further investigation needed to identify cause
* and same between height to weight

Question 4

What do centiles show?

Answer 4

number of children EXPECTED to be below the line
e.g. 50% below the 50th centile line and half above
- half fall between 75th and 25th centile (-1 and + 1 Z scores)
-

Question 5

Baby weight loss

Answer 5

• normal after birth
• expressed as a % of birth weight
• > 10% weight loss may indicate feeding problem or illness
• regardless of % weight loss (consider overall picture to understnand baby health

Question 6

Hydrocephalus

Answer 6

rapid head growth in babies

Question 7

BMI

Answer 7

effective for predicting obesity in children under age of 2 (which leads to high BMI later in life)

Question 8

How does Iron deficiency affect overall health?

Answer 8

• Delays/impairs growth
• Fatigue
• increased susceptibility to infection

Question 9

How does calcium deficiency affect overall health?

Answer 9

• Delays/impairs growth
• reduced blood clotting
• heart and nerve function
• reduced bone health