الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract Growth is an important objective parameter of general health of a child. Normal growth is the result of the proper interaction of genetic, nutritional, metabolic and endocrinal factors. The most powerful tool in growth assessment is the growth chart used in combination with accurate measurements of height, weight, and head circumference. Abnormal anthropometric measures are a common problem encountered by practicing pediatricians. The aetiology of these abnormalities ranges from normal variant like familial short stature to pathological causes. Our study aimed at finding out the different causes of abnormal anthropometric measures, and the degree of abnormalities in each cause. The study was conducted on 405 male subjects and 395 female subjects as a cross sectional study after execlusion of chronic illness among children attending the pediatric outpatient clinic in Al-Hussin hospital, Al-Azhar University. All children in the study were subjected to full detailed medical history, family history, assessment of father’s and mother’s educational levels. The clinical examination, including: auxological measurements, as child’s height, weight, mid arm circumference and head circumference. General and systemic examination. Several studies reported that levels of stunting were slightly higher for male children than for female children. While our study detected that levels of stunting were slightly higher for female children than for male children. The study detected that no relationship between order in the family and subjects that were affected by short stature according to standard deviations for height percentile. Also, several studies reported that levels of wasting were slightly higher for male children than for female children. While our study detected that levels of stunting were slightly higher for female children than for male children. The explanation might be due to the large sample in other studies and due to the exclusion criteria which excludes the subjects with chronic illness. The study reported that no significant correlation between educational level of fathers and subjects that were below 5th percentiles and no significant correlation between educational level of mothers and subjects that were below 5th percentiles. |