Comparison of short-term head and body growth in an infant, preschool children, and adolescent girls

SUMMARY: Introduction: The aim of the present longitudinal study was to compare short-term growth in height, the circumference of the head, chest, and hips, biacromial width, as well as bi-iliac breadth in one infant, two preschool children, and seven adolescent girls. Methods: The studied characteristics were measured four times a week. Stature was observed during 83-130 days and the other measures during 60 days. Intra-observer technical error was calculated (TEM), and smoothing techniques using combined repeated median/median hybrid filter (CRMMH) were applied. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to estimate statistical significance of differences between mean values of length, as well as the number of stasis periods and steep changes. Results: Steep changes, continuous growth, and stasis periods were found in the studied individuals. The highest number of steep changes and the largest steep changes were noted for stature (0.85 cm). The longest period of stasis was 48 days for head circumference. There were no statistically significant differences between period length and number of stasis periods or steep changes in any of the measures of children. Conclusion: Growth curves for stature and head circumference were similar, which may suggest a common pattern of growth, different from that for thoracic bones. Steep changes in body width measures were observed in the absence of increments in both stature and head circumference.