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Professional Conduct
& Attitude

Skills

Knowledge
Health Supervision
Growth
Development
Behavior
Nutrition
Prevention of Illness
Issues Unique to Adolescence
Issues Unique to Newborns
Medical Genetics
Common Illnesses
& Problems

Common Chronic Illnesses/Disabilities
Therapeutics
Fluid & Electrolyte Management
Poisoning
Pediatric Emergencies
Child Abuse
Child Advocacy

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Medical Student Curriculum Guide
Knowledge—Growth

Rationale

Growth is the defining feature of childhood. Genetic and environmental factors influence the rate of growth and the final stature and body habitus the child attains. Regular monitoring of growth provides the clinician with one of the best indicators of the underlying health of the child.

Learning Objectives

  1. Explain the use of growth charts in the longitudinal evaluation of height, weight and head circumference.

  2. Recognize abnormalities of growth which warrant further evaluation, such as crossing lines on a growth chart, discrepancies between height, weight and head circumference, short stature, failure to thrive, obesity, microcephaly and macrocephaly.

  3. Identify intrauterine factors which affect growth of the fetus.

  4. Recognize normal variants of growth, such as familial short stature and constitutional delay.

Competencies

  1. Accurately measure height, weight and head circumference and plot the data on a growth chart.

  2. Include an assessment of growth in the patient work-up.

  3. Identify abnormal growth patterns and explain the initial assessment.

  4. Outline the initial evaluation of a child with failure to thrive.


Copyright 2003
Medical College of Georgia
All rights reserved.

School of Medicine | Medical College of Georgia

Please email comments, suggestions or questions to:
Kenda Rindt, krindt@mail.mcg.edu.
May 28, 2003