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Feb 28, 2023
Assessment of growth and the use of growth charts are crucial topics in paediatrics for the early detection of growth problems. Growth assessment helps identify growth problems early on, allowing for early intervention and treatment. This can prevent or minimize the long-term consequences of growth problems.
The World Health Organization (WHO) growth charts are widely used around the world as a standard reference for growth assessment. This ensures consistency in growth monitoring and facilitates comparison of growth patterns across different populations.
Read this blog further for a quick overview of this important pediatrics topic for NEET PG exam preparation.
Growth refers to increase in physical size. The baby continues to grow right from its conception, so different terminologies were given to name at different points of time.
Is a measurement of various parameters in a human being. Anthro means human and metry refers to measurement. To assess the growth of a child we use different anthropometric parameter like: weight, height, head circumference, mid arm circumference, skin fold thickness, chest circumference and body mass index. These are the important factors
These are predictive values, for exact values there are charts available:
Device used by health workers in the field to measure MAC. It is a color coded tape that has red (<11.5), yellow (11.5-12.5 cm) and green zone (>12.5cm). If MAC is falling in the red zone that shows the child has severe malnutrition. This is applicable to children between 6 months - 5 years of age.If MAC falls in the yellow zone, indicates borderline nutritional status. If MAC falls in the green zone indicates normal nutrition
Gives an idea about the amount of subcutaneous fat present in the child. The device used to measure SFT is called Harpenden callipers device. The areas to measure SFT is suprascapular, subscapular, biceps and the triceps area. Normal value of the SFT gets from WHO growth chart. Usually the subcutaneous fat content is maximum at around 9 months of age and than it starts decreasing till 6 years of age and than it starts increasing
At birth the head circumference (HC) is more than CC. By 9 months to 1 year of age the HC becomes equal to CC in a well nourished child. In a normal child beyond 1 year of age CC will be more than HC. CC is usually measured with a measuring tape at the level of the child's nipples.
It is a composite of the weight and the height of the child.
BMI=wt(kg)/ht(m)2. If the BMI of the child is < 5th percentile, that indicates that the child is underweight , but if it is > 85th percentile, it indicates overweight. If > 95th percentile, then it indicates obesity.
Graphical representation of the anthropometric parameters. At every visit it is mandatory to plot the growth of the child in growth chart
Based on the MGRS (Multicentre Growth Reference study). This study included children from 6 different countries across the world Brazil, Oman, Norway, Ghana, US, India. (Mnemonic BONGUI). The children who were exclusively breastfeed in the first few months of life. Babies who had factors like maternal smoking or alcohol intake were excluded. WHO include growth charts for various parameters like
Used beyond 5 years of age. Includes K. N Agarwal growth chart, IAP (Indian Academy of pediatric), Khadilkar chart
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