BMI, an indicator of an appropriate child development

The Body Mass Index (BMI) shows that the development of a child being correct. To check, they have to perform periodic follow pediatrician.

Currently, there are graphs showing the development of a child being correct, both from the point of view of weight and size of. But, from the nutritional point of view, in the specialty of pediatrics body mass index (BMI) is used. This index correlates with the size and weight with age by using a formula which is weight divided by height squared. The value resulting from this formula is compared in a table that sets men and women and to correlate with age.

Normal child growth standards

There are certain patterns that indicate that child growth is being correct. For example, at 6 months of life it is usually double the weight of birth and year of life, usually triple. If growth patterns are not normal, there may be some organic problem to prevent it.

The growth of weight and height is carried out on a regular basis until the start of preadolescence. In girls 11-12 years a significant increase in both weight and height occurs. This causes, in the same school year, the girls look older than boys. It is at this time that many of the girls already have the change and have their first menstruation (menarche). However, the significant increase in the weight and height of children does not occur until 13-14 years. Around age 18, both boys and girls stop growing; provided there is not a delayed bone age.

Pediatric follow

Monitoring should be done pediatrician from birth. Thus, from the outset both weight control, such as height and BMI. Pediatric well-child checks that everything must be done are: within 15 days of birth, a month, two months, four, six and one year. Having completed the first year of life, checks must be made within 15 months, at 18, at 2-3 years, at 5, at 11 and finally at age 14. At these pediatric controls, child development is valued, functions are evaluated and vaccination for the period is made.

If the child's growth is not adequate or there is some pathology in need, pediatric controls may be more common. In these cases, monitoring for more and better control of the child is individualized.

Treatments to follow if a child does not grow enough

When a child grows observed improperly, first the key is to perform a thorough examination to rule out any organic disease that could justify this delay growth. It is important to assess the size of the parents, because if they are stunted, it is justified that his son also is.

Once discarded any organic disease, carpal radiography left (if the child is right-handed) is performed to assess bone age. If the child has a delayed bone age, it means that grow behind their peers; but when they stop growing, they will continue to grow to reach them.

It is very important from an analytical point of view, value growth hormone. The test will be done in practice for it to be valuable. If the test result indicates a lack of growth hormone, it may be administered exogenously to a high cost. Fortunately, cases of growth hormone deficiency are rare. In no case should be administered growth hormone in normal children who are short people to grow.