pediatrics
Growth Parameters in Neonates
Introduction
Growth parameters and Gestational Age help identify the risk of neonatal pathology. Growth is influenced by genetic and nutritional factors as well as intrauterine conditions. Growth parameters assessed at birth help predict subsequent growth and development and risk of disease. The parameters are Using weight plotted by gestational age, each infant is classified at birth as ( References , Small-for-Gestational-Age (SGA) Infant : < 10th percentile Appropriate for gestational age: 10th to 90th percentile Large-for-Gestational-Age (LGA) Infant : > 90th percentile The Fenton growth charts, most commonly used in the United States, use all 3 parameters and provide a more precise assessment of growth by gestational age. However, use of single growth references, such as the Fenton growth charts, is problematic because studies show an abundance of fetal growth variability among infants of different ethnicities and countries of origin ( References , Fenton T, Kim J: A systematic review and meta-analysis to revise the Fenton growth chart for preterm infants.BMC Pediatrics13:59, 2013. doi: 10.1186/1471-2431-13-59; used with permission. Available atwww.biomedcentral.com. Fenton T, Kim J: A systematic review and meta-analysis to revise the Fenton growth chart for preterm infants.BMC Pediatrics13:59, 2013. doi: 10.1186/1471-2431-13-59; used with permission. Available atwww.biomedcentral.com. 