Background: Deviations from the normal pattern of growth may be the first clues to pathology as in many chronic diseases evaluated clinically by anthropometric measurements and body mass index (BMI).
ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess growth parameters (weight, height, head circumference, skin fold thickness, mid-arm circumference, and BMI in patients with chronic diseases.
Patients and methods: A cross-sectional prospective study was conducted among 1000 children with chronic medical diseases in the Paediatric Department at Sohag University Hospital (From April 2023 to April 2024). All patients were subjected to history taking, clinical examination, BMI, and anthropometric measurements
Results: Regarding the 1000 children with different chronic diseases, there were 200 cases diagnosed with chronic heart disease, 150 cases diagnosed withchronic endocrinal diseases, 80 cases diagnosed with gastrointestinal diseases, 100 cases diagnosed with chronic hematological diseases, 70 cases diagnosed withchronic immunological diseases, 100 cases diagnosed withchronic metabolic diseases, 100 cases diagnosed withchronic neurological diseases, 100 cases diagnosed withchronic renal diseases and 100 cases diagnosed withChronic respiratory diseases.
Conclusions: Children with chronic diseases displayed growth and developmental issues. Growth and development were positively influenced by many factors such as parental health, genetic composition, environmental factors, and multiple chronic diseases.Early diagnosis and good evaluation by growth parameters, BMI, and growth chart could eliminate growth failure.