Large-for-age Overweight-for-age Wasted Growth faltering Stunted These growth patterns indicate that the child may have a medical, nutritional or social problem. It is, therefore, very important that all children who do not have a normal growth pattern are identified as soon as possible in order that they can be carefully examined. Some of these children [...]
These children appear healthy but are symmetrically large. Their weight, height and head circumference are all equally above the 97th centile. Their growth curves run parallel above the 97th centile. Most of these children have tall parents and are genetically large. Some may have been large at birth with a high birth weight. They are [...]
These children can often be recognised by simple inspection. Their weight falls above the 97th centile (overweight-for-age) while their height and head circumference usually fall in the normal range. Their growth curve for weight often shows a weight gain faster than normal. They are too fat. A weight above the 97th centile with a height [...]
Wasting is a danger sign and suggests malnutrition or illness. These children usually look very thin and have a weight that falls below the 3rd centile while their height and head circumference often fall within the normal range. These children also have a body mass index below the 3rd centile, i.e. they are underweight for [...]
Infants with growth faltering (failure to thrive or slow growth) have not been gaining weight normally. Their weight may be static (remaining the same) or may even be dropping. Their height and head circumference may also not be increasing normally. This is a very important growth pattern to recognise as most of these children have [...]
Stunted children are shorter than normal for their age. As they are often symmetrically small and do not look thin, their stunting is often missed. Usually their growth curves have followed the centiles although their weight, height and head circumference all fall below the 3rd centile. Stunting usually occurs before 3 years of life. It [...]
Short children usually become short adults as catch-up growth is difficult to achieve. Severe stunting due to malnutrition before 2 years of age is associated with schooling difficulties later.
A very common pattern of growth in poor communities throughout the world is normal weight gain for the first 6 months while the infant is being breastfed. Then, between 6 months and a year, there is faltering of both weight and length as the child receives inadequate food. By a year the child is stunted, [...]
Puberty is a time of rapid growth. It occurs earlier in girls than in boys. Puberty also occurs earlier in well-nourished children than in malnourished (undernourished) children. The puberty growth spurt usually lasts 2 years, starting at about 11 years in girls and 13 years in boys.
The position of the child’s weight, height, head circumference on the centile lines, and the growth curves for all these measurements, determines the child’s growth pattern. Therefore, more than one measurement of size (e.g. weight and height) is needed to establish the growth pattern. Most normal healthy children have a weight, height and head circumference [...]
Love and emotional security are needed for normal growth. Stressed and emotionally deprived children grow slower that normal and may become stunted. Growth hormone is not secreted normally in emotionally deprived children. This has been well-documented in some children in orphanages.
