Interpretation of Child Health Assessment

Child Health Assessment Analysis

Introduction

It is very important that every child must be examined regularly for physical, social and mental well being and health for normal functioning in every day life may it be physcial or mental activity. The examiner of the person conducting health assessment of the child must give him or her enough time to become well acquainted with the surroundings and medical practitioner so the the child is able to share true information with the practitioner more comfortably without any hesitation or reluctance. Every child is an individual and must be approached and examined with a view point that he is a normal person with normal senses and ability to understand. The tone of interview or conversation must be polite, slow and quiet. The question and answer session must be carried out slowly in a friendly environment as it is very important to make the child relaxed so that he shares true information without hiding anything important for the development of his health assessement or examination. The approach of interview or examination has no fixed pattern or rule and may vary depending upon the age of the child. Therefore it is very important for effective assessment of the child that the age of the child must be kept in mind before starting the examination and asking relevant questions. For children of very young age, the assessor or medical practitioner will have to be more observant and receptive as children belonging to the age of 8 months to 3 years will not be able to communicate very well. On the other hand children above 5 years will be more cooperative and open towards questions.

Discussion

Physical Assessment

It is important to monitor the weight and height of the child to encsure normal and proper growth of the chid. The growth charts must be used and employed to evaluate and compare the child's growth to see if he or she is growing at a normal rate and pattern. The charts helps in determining if the child is overweight or underweight so that important steps can be taken in time to regulate normal growth of the child by controlling his diet and physical activities or lifestyle. The height of Natalie are in normal ranges according to the standard chart and is more than the 5th percentile, at 10th percentile on the growth chart. In case of weight 34.4 kgs also lands on the 10th percentile on the growth chart which also show normal range and no need for concern or any other growth related issues. In other words this shows that Natalie weighs more than 10 percent of the girls belonging to her age group and same goes for the height.

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Vital signs

The vital signs are the indicators that show whether the body is functioning in a normal manner or not. The vital signs normally include measurement of pulse, blood pressure, body temperature and respiration rate. They help in identifying the overall helath condition of the concerned person ...