Health Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 201, 14 November 1927, Page 14

Health Notes

CARE OF THE CHILD HEIGHT AND WEIGHT (Contributed by the Department of Health.) While the relation of weight to height and age is significant as a starting point to determine a child’s nutrition, however, his rate of gain in weight and height is even more important as showing his progress. In healthy children growth in height and gain in weight go on together, and usually at the same rate. En neither of these is the increase uniform or continuous for long periods of time. There are seen with nearly all children periods of a few months in which both are slower. Gain in height is most marked in the late spring and summer, while, gain in weight is usually more rapid in the autumn and early winter months and less rapid in the spring and summer. A stationary weight for a few months is consistent with perfect health, but a prolonged period of stationary weight or a steady loss at any time indicates malnutrition or latent disease, and demands attention. It is not generally recognised that a girl in her early teens is both taller and heavier than her brother at the same age. Girls gain at the same rate as boys up to the age of ten years; during the next year more rapidly, and pass the boys, remaining ahead* until about 15 years, when the boys overtake and pass them permanently. Though there are considerable individual variations, depending on race, family characteristics, etc., and not every child below the average weight for height and age is to be considered under-nourished, it is pretty generally agreed that for practical purposes children between the ages of five and 13 years who are 10 per eentor more below the normal average of weight for height and age should be considered under-nourished. Such children will usually, on closer examination, show other evidence of being physically below par. For children from 13 to 18 years slightly wider variation from the average may be regarded as normal. Monthly weighing of all children, if regularly practised, makes possible the recognition of many conditions at a comparatively early period which might become serious. For children who are not progressing satisfactorily a complete medical examination should be made to determine whether they are suffering from actual disease or some defect which is interfering with growth, or whether it is simply that they are not obeying the common rules of health. Their home surroundings and habits should be investigated and considered in order to ascertain whether their food is proper for a growing child and whether it is sufficient in amount. Also, whether they are getting enough fresh air, enough rest and hours of sleep, too much or too little muscular exercise. A HEALTHY CHILD In determining a child’s nutrition his general appearance gives valuable additional information. His face tells much—whether his expression shows keen interest, with bright eyes, red lips and plump rosy cheeks, or whether his expression is dull and listless, with thin, pale cheeks and dark about the eyes, for the latter indicates under-nourishment, fatigue, exhaustion or illness. If the clothing is removed his posture is an index to his health. Where vitality is depressed there is a general bodily slackness and a loss of muscle tone, drooping head, winged shoulders, and narrow or flat chest furnishing unfavourable evidence. We thus see that faulty hygiene may permanently injure a child. He is moreover exposed to the risk of infectious disease and susceptible to diseases such as rheumatism —a much more insidious and deadly enemy to childhood than is often recognised. When we consider that early childhood is the age most vulnerable to infection from tuberculosis, we cannot fail to be impressed with the value of a periodic medical examination for all children and with the necessity of pro.viding for their vulnerable growing bodies and environment favourable to the acquirement of vigour. A healthy child is not only free from evidence of malaise and lack of vitality, but has a definite feeling of physical well-being and joy in activity. We know how powerful is the influence of good nurture. Let us endeavour, therefore, to see that the next succeeding generation of human beings enjoys increasing freedom from bodily weakness by safeguarding its infancy from hygienic errors and from infection, and by building up its resistance to the onset of disease. Every illness, it is said, must be regarded as at least a temporary victory for bacteria.