RT Book, Section
A1 Reiter, Edward O.
A2 Rudolph, Colin D.
A2 Rudolph, Abraham M.
A2 Lister, George E.
A2 First, Lewis R.
A2 Gershon, Anne A.
SR Print(0)
ID 7052565
T1 Chapter 522. Growth and Growth Impairment
T2 Rudolph's Pediatrics, 22e
YR 2011
FD 2011
PB The McGraw-Hill Companies
PP New York, NY
SN 978-0-07-149723-7
LK accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=7052565
RD 2024/04/25
AB Growth  is  a  complex  process  that  involves  the  interaction  of  multiple,  diverse  factors  and  represents  the  sum  of  these  influences  on  cell  replication  and  programmed  cell  death  (apoptosis)  and  on  cell  differentiation.  Growth  is  ultimately  governed  by  the  genome  of  a  person  and  its  interactions  with  external  factors,  such  as  nutrition  and  psychosocial  well-being.  Linear  height  growth  may  occur  as  a  continuous  process  or  with  periodic  bursts  of  growth  and  arrest.1-3During  1  year  of  growth  monitoring,  there  may  be  marked  seasonal  variations  of  height  and  weight  gain  with  several  monthly  bursts  of  weight  and  then  height  growth.4  Despite  the  complexity,  healthy  children  usually  grow  linearly  in  a  remarkably  predictable  manner.  Change  from  a  normal  growth  pattern  often  is  the  first  manifestation  of  a  disease,  either  an  endocrine  or  a  nonendocrine  disorder  that  can  involve  almost  any  organ  system.  Frequent  and  accurate  assessment  of  growth  therefore  is  of  primary  importance  in  the  care  of  children.