- Parents would expect their kid to be as tall as they are or be even taller than them. Height or length is determined by many factors including genetic and enviornmental factors
- At birth a newborn child’s length is around 50 cm. Some children may be shorter than this.
- Kids grow at an average rate of 25 cm in first year and 12.5 cm in 2nd year AND around 6 cm then onwards. but the average height increase over period of one year will reflect growth velocity of your kid.
- We can assess the length or height by looking at standard deviation charts for length and height. this chart will give us normal range of length or height +2 to -2. When height falls below -3 it is short stature.
- Look for dropping of height from -2 to -3, which is also shows height is dropping.
- If parents are short ,their kid generally follow almost average of their height .In familial short stature, both the infant and the parents are small; growth runs parallel to and just below the normal curves.their final height is below normal for children of same age
- In constitutional short stature where parents had normal growth velocity in infancy and sub sequently drop in velocity to regain normal velocity around puberty . their final height is normal
- If a child has serious illness,growth hormone deficency or thyroid deficiency their growth deviates from normal. the chart deviates from normal to abnormal height( from normal(+2 to -2) to below -3 (short stature)
- we can have a prediction about final height,eventhough an absolute prediction is not possible
- A child’s final height is double the 2 yrs (an approximation only). for furthur details contact your doctor
CHARTS
1 length 0-5 yrs girls sd NORMAL -CARE OF CHILDREN
2length 0-5 yrs girls sd FAMILIAL -CARE OF CHILDREN
3.length 0-5 yrs girls sd GROWTH HORMONE DEFICIENCY -CARE OF CHILDREN
Superintendent, ICH.