childhood growth Flashcards
1
Q
what do centile charts tell you?
A
- height, weight, head circumference, BMI
- based on surveys of large groups of children
- age (x-asis), heigh (y-axis)
2
Q
how would you interpret the 25th centile?
A
- 25% children will be shorter than 25th centile
- 75% will be taller
3
Q
how do you attain an accurate measurement?
A
- well-maintained/accurate equipment
- position child appropriately
- get rid of interfering items e.g. shoes off
- calculate age and plot correctly on chart
4
Q
what is height velocity?
A
how fast a child is growing in cm/year
5
Q
what can normal growth be influenced by?
A
- events before birth: poor foetal growth, LBW
- medical issues in childhood: malnutrition, chronic disease
- genetic factors
- randomness: presence of multiple genes and environment
6
Q
when is the fastest phases of growth in a child?
A
- between ages of 0-2 years old
- another phase of fast growth at puberty
- skeleton matures as child grows, epiphyses fuse at end of puberty and growth stops
7
Q
what is the most important hormonal GF? what is it stimulated by? inhibited?
A
- GH
- stimulated by GnRH
- inhibited by SS
8
Q
what are the effects of GH?
A
- some direct effects
- secretion of IGF-1 from liver
9
Q
what is short stature?
A
- if a child grows slower than normal
10
Q
what are some of the causes of short stature?
A
- poor nutrition
- chronic disease
- endocrine causes: GH def, TSH/T4 def
- genetic disorders affecting bone growth (achondroplasia, Turner’s, Down’s)
- psychological distress and neglect
11
Q
what are the causes of tall stature?
A
- not normall a concern causes: - syndromes of overgrowth e.g. Marfan's - GH excess from pit tumour - precocious puberty
12
Q
define obesity
A
- BMI > 25kg/m2 is overweight
- BMI > 30kg/m2 is obese
13
Q
why do people get obese?
A
- intake vs expenditure
- very few people have def in leptin
- some gene variants (e.g. in FTO gene) that affects behaviour and appetite
