A growth curve (or growth line) illustrates the way a child is growing over a period of time. A growth curve can be determined when a child’s size measurements have been made on two or more visits and have been plotted as dots on a centile chart. If these dots are now joined together with [...]
A growth curve shows not only whether the child’s size is normal or not, but also whether the child is growing normally, faster or slower than expected. Therefore, a growth curve is a far better method of assessing growth than using size measurements taken on one occasion only as it reflects the child’s growth rate. [...]
If the child’s growth rate is normal, the growth curve will closely follow along (be parallel to) the centile lines and not cross more than one centile. A normal growth curve is plotted in Figure 3.2. A normal growth curve follows the centile lines. Special growth rate charts can be used to determine accurately whether [...]
Most children double their weight from birth to 6 months and treble (increase by three times) their birth weight by one year. The increase in weight and height is fastest in the first year of life and then slows down until puberty when growth is again fast for a short while. Growth in head size [...]
In younger children, weight is the most sensitive index of growth and poor weight gain is usually the first sign of malnutrition. In older children, height is the better index of growth. Height is the best index of growth in older children.
Some children who are heavier than normal are perfectly healthy. They are simply bigger for their age than most children. Other children are heavier than normal because they are obese (too fat).
This is a very important observation. Some children who weigh less than normal are healthy and simply smaller for their age than most children. However, in a poor community, most children who weigh less than normal are malnourished (undernourished) or have an illness.
Determine the child’s growth pattern.
