Growth & Development in Children & Adolescent

Growth is a measurable index of health. The study of growth is of paramount importance in pediatrics. A pediatrician needs to be well versed with the knowledge and practice of measurement of growth and its proper assessment to enable him to find out if the child is growing adequately or not in reference to individual performance capability and also the community. The basic need in studying growth is to know and use appropriate, scientifically sound and statistically relevant methods. If methods are not identical, it becomes impossible to compare and understand the difference of performance of different children with regard to national and international reference standards. Growth and development is a continuous process from fertilization till maturity. Besides genetic factors, growth is influenced by nutrition. Illness and social economic and psychological environment. To study in totality all aspects of his fascinating subject is the sailing through an ocean which has no other shore. In our humble endeavor, we have touched upon the important aspects of physical growth from the intrauterine period till adolescence, the methods of assessment as well as neurobehavioral development of newborn through infancy to childhood along with its abnormalities and early intervention. Growth and development comprise the basic science in the field of pediatrics. Pediatricians owe responsibility for care of the child and should thus be familiar with the methods of study and assessment of growth, their normal patterns and milestones of normal development, thus enabling them to recognize any deviations from norm at the earliest. This should enable us to detect deficiencies or disorders and to give appropriate and timely attention and care.