Important One-Liner Points on Growth and Development.
1. General Growth and Development Concepts
Growth refers to an increase in physical size, while development refers to the maturation of functions.
Cephalocaudal pattern means development occurs from head to toe.
Proximodistal pattern means development progresses from the center of the body outward.
Milestones are specific skills most children achieve by a certain age.
The first year of life is the most rapid growth period after birth.
Weight doubles by 5 months and triples by 1 year of age.
Length increases by 50% in the first year of life.
Head circumference increases rapidly in the first year, reflecting brain growth.
Fontanelles (soft spots) allow for brain growth after birth.
The posterior fontanelle closes by 2 months, and the anterior fontanelle closes by 18 months.
2. Growth Parameters
Normal birth weight is around 2.5–4 kg.
Low birth weight (LBW) is defined as less than 2.5 kg.
Very low birth weight (VLBW) is less than 1.5 kg.
Microcephaly refers to a head circumference below the 3rd percentile.
Macrocephaly is an abnormally large head, often due to hydrocephalus.
Failure to thrive (FTT) is poor growth due to inadequate nutrition or underlying conditions.
BMI-for-age is used to assess overweight and obesity in children.
Growth spurts occur during infancy and adolescence.
Tanner staging assesses pubertal development in adolescents.
Delayed puberty is the absence of sexual development by age 13 in girls and 14 in boys.
3. Motor Development
Gross motor skills involve large muscles for activities like sitting, standing, and walking.
Fine motor skills involve small muscles for activities like grasping and drawing.
Head control develops by 3 months of age.
Rolling over occurs around 4–6 months.
Sitting without support is achieved by 6–8 months.
Crawling typically starts around 8–10 months.
Standing with support develops by 9 months.
Walking independently usually occurs around 12–15 months.
Pincer grasp (using thumb and index finger) develops by 9–12 months.
Tower of 2 blocks can be stacked by 15 months.
4. Language Development
Cooing starts around 6–8 weeks of age.
Babbling develops around 4–6 months.
First words typically appear by 12 months.
Two-word phrases are used by 18–24 months.
Vocabulary expands rapidly after 18 months.
Speech should be 50% intelligible by 2 years, 75% by 3 years, and nearly 100% by 4 years.
Echolalia (repeating words) is normal up to 2 years but concerning if persistent beyond that.
Language delay is common in boys but should be evaluated if no words by 18 months.
Bilingual children may have temporary language delays but catch up by age 4.
Hearing loss should be ruled out in cases of speech delay.
5. Cognitive Development (Piaget’s Stages)
Sensorimotor stage (0–2 years) focuses on exploring the world through senses and actions.
Object permanence develops around 8–9 months, meaning the child knows objects exist even when out of sight.
Preoperational stage (2–7 years) involves symbolic thinking and egocentrism.
Concrete operational stage (7–11 years) allows for logical thinking about concrete events.
Formal operational stage (12 years and up) involves abstract and hypothetical reasoning.
Egocentrism is common in preschoolers, making it hard to see others’ perspectives.
Conservation (understanding that quantity remains the same despite changes in shape) develops around 7 years.
Magical thinking is typical in preschool-age children.
Centration is focusing on one aspect of a situation, common in early childhood.
Irreversibility refers to the inability to mentally reverse an action, typical before age 7.
6. Psychosocial Development (Erikson’s Stages)
Trust vs. Mistrust (0–1 year) is about developing a sense of security through caregiver reliability.
Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (1–3 years) focuses on developing independence.
Initiative vs. Guilt (3–6 years) involves asserting control through play and social interaction.
Industry vs. Inferiority (6–12 years) focuses on competence and skills development.
Identity vs. Role Confusion (12–18 years) is about developing a personal identity and sense of self.
Positive reinforcement helps foster autonomy in toddlers.
Separation anxiety peaks around 9–18 months.
Stranger anxiety appears around 6–8 months.
Temper tantrums are common in toddlers and reflect frustration with communication limits.
Parallel play is typical in toddlers, while cooperative play emerges in preschoolers.
7. Emotional and Social Development
Attachment is the emotional bond between an infant and caregiver.
Secure attachment is critical for healthy emotional development.
Separation anxiety disorder is excessive fear of separation beyond the expected developmental age.
Social smiling develops around 6 weeks of age.
Temperament refers to a child’s innate personality traits.
Peer relationships become important in school-age children.
Bullying can negatively affect social development and mental health.
Role-playing games help develop social and emotional skills.
Empathy starts to develop around 2 years of age.
Moral development begins in early childhood and is influenced by family and environment.
8. Red Flags in Development
No social smile by 3 months is a developmental red flag.
No head control by 4 months suggests a motor delay.
Not sitting independently by 9 months warrants evaluation.
Not walking by 18 months may indicate a motor delay.
No words by 18 months is a red flag for language delay.
Loss of previously acquired skills suggests a neurodevelopmental disorder.
Persistent toe-walking beyond 2 years may indicate autism or neuromuscular disorders.
Lack of eye contact and social interaction may indicate autism spectrum disorder.
Hand dominance before 18 months may suggest neurological issues.
Inability to follow simple commands by 2 years requires assessment.
9. Nutrition and Growth
Breastfeeding is recommended exclusively for the first 6 months.
Complementary feeding should start at 6 months alongside continued breastfeeding.
Iron deficiency anemia is common after 6 months without iron-rich foods.
Cow’s milk should be avoided before 1 year of age due to the risk of anemia.
Vitamin D supplementation is recommended for all breastfed infants.
Failure to thrive can be due to medical, nutritional, or psychosocial factors.
Obesity in children increases the risk of adult metabolic disorders.
Growth charts are used to monitor weight, height, and head circumference over time.
BMI percentile is used to classify weight status in children over 2 years old.
Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) includes conditions like marasmus and kwashiorkor.
10. Immunizations and Preventive Care
The first vaccine (BCG, Hepatitis B, OPV) is given at birth in many countries.
The DPT vaccine protects against diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus.
The MMR vaccine is given around 9–12 months and again at 15–18 months.
Polio vaccine is given as oral (OPV) or inactivated (IPV) forms.
Rotavirus vaccine helps prevent severe diarrhea in infants.
Hib vaccine prevents infections like meningitis and pneumonia.
HPV vaccine is recommended in adolescents to prevent cervical and other cancers.
Vitamin A supplementation reduces childhood mortality from infections.
Regular developmental screening is crucial during well-child visits.
Early intervention services improve outcomes in children with developmental delays.
Important One-Liner Points on Pediatric History, Breastfeeding, Weaning, and Artificial Feeding.
1. Pediatric History Taking
Pediatric history includes prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal history.
Antenatal history covers maternal health, infections, medications, and complications during pregnancy.
Perinatal history includes birth weight, gestational age, mode of delivery, and any complications.
Postnatal history focuses on feeding, growth, immunizations, and developmental milestones.
Family history helps identify genetic or hereditary conditions.
Immunization history is crucial to assess the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases.
Developmental history tracks milestones in motor, language, and social skills.
Nutritional history evaluates breastfeeding, weaning, and dietary habits.
Past medical history includes previous illnesses, hospitalizations, and surgeries.
History of presenting illness (HPI) should follow the SOCRATES format (Site, Onset, Character, Radiation, Associated symptoms, Timing, Exacerbating/relieving factors, Severity).
2. Breastfeeding
Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first 6 months of life.
Colostrum, the first milk, is rich in antibodies and nutrients.
Foremilk is watery and quenches thirst, while hindmilk is rich in fat and provides energy.
Breast milk contains immunoglobulin A (IgA) for passive immunity.
Neonatal resuscitation begins with drying, warming, and clearing the airway.
Apnea of prematurity is common in preterm infants and requires monitoring.
Neonatal hypothermia increases the risk of sepsis and mortality.
2. Pediatric CPR
Pediatric Basic Life Support (BLS) follows the CAB sequence: Compressions, Airway, Breathing.
Compression-to-ventilation ratio is 30:2 for a single rescuer, 15:2 for two rescuers.
Chest compressions should be at a depth of 1/3 of the chest’s anterior-posterior diameter.
Compression rate is 100–120 compressions per minute.
Infant CPR uses two fingers for chest compressions.
Child CPR uses one or two hands depending on the child’s size.
Airway management includes head tilt-chin lift unless trauma is suspected.
Rescue breaths are given at one breath every 3–5 seconds.
Bag-valve-mask ventilation is preferred over mouth-to-mouth in healthcare settings.
Defibrillation is used for ventricular fibrillation or pulseless VT.
AEDs with pediatric pads are used for children under 8 years.
Reversible causes of cardiac arrest include the “Hs and Ts”: Hypoxia, Hypovolemia, Hydrogen ion (acidosis), Hypo-/Hyperkalemia, Hypothermia, Tension pneumothorax, Tamponade, Toxins, Thrombosis.
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) includes medication administration and advanced airway management.
Epinephrine is the drug of choice in pediatric cardiac arrest (0.01 mg/kg IV).
Amiodarone is used for refractory ventricular arrhythmias.
Hypoglycemia is corrected with IV dextrose during resuscitation if needed.
Naloxone is used in suspected opioid overdose.
Intraosseous access is used if IV access cannot be established quickly.