An important aspect of infant care is a detailed and thorough physical examination, the normal property and the existing anomalies identified and provides a basis for future physiological changes. Physical examination of the newborn should be a priority in the medical plan of care. This article focuses on the normal results, deviations from the norm, which requires little or no therapy, and the specific risk of potential evidence that the physician shouldmore careful observation of the child. In some structures, estimation of gestational age is a routine procedure.
General measures
There are several important measures of the newborn that have meaning when they are compared with each other and, when he recorded over time in a chart. For the full year term average child is the circumference of the head between 34 and 36cm. Head circumference is a bit 'less immediately after birth because of the shape that occurs during normalvaginal delivery. Usually the second or third day the normal size and contour of the skull have been replaced by printed.
Chest is 32 to 34cm. Head circumference is usually greater than about 2 or 3 cm Chest. Because of the shape of the head during delivery, these measures may initially appear the same. However, it should be if the head is significantly smaller than the chest, microcephalic, or premature closure of cranial sutures (craniosynostosis) has suggested that if the head is moregreater than 4 cm in circumference than the chest, and this ratio remains constant or increases over several days, then it must be regarded as hydrocephalus. Other causes of increased head circumference were succedeneum caput and Cephalhematoma subdural hematoma. Prematurity and malnutrition can cause the measurement head can be considerably larger than the chest, but this is not due to decreased breast size, increased head circumference.
Circumference of the head can alsobe compared to crown-rump length or to-height. Crown-to-back measures 31 to 35 inches of head circumference is approximately equal. The relationship between the head and crown-to-rump measurement is more reliable than that between the head and chest. Head-to-heel length is also measured infant int. Because of the usual flexed position of the child, it is important to extend the leg fully guaranteed if the total length. The average length of the newborn is 52 to54cm.
The body weight should be taken very soon after birth, because the weight loss occurs fairly quickly. Normally, the baby loses about 10% of birth weight of 3 or 4 days, due to excessive loss of extracellular fluid, meconium is limited, and food intake. Weight at birth is later than the tenth day of life. The majority of infants weighing 2700 to 4000g, as the average weight of about 3200-3400g. Infants weighing less than 2500g are generally classified as low birth weight infants. ExactlyBirth weight and length are important because they provide a basis for assessing future growth.
Another category of measurement of vital signs. Axillary temperatures are taken, because the insertion of a thermometer can cause perforation of the colon mucosa. However, under a rectal temperature or with the soft tip of a catheter provided an opportunity to determine the effectiveness of the anus. The temperature of the body depending on the period of responsiveness, but is usually 35.5Degrees Celsius to 37.5 degrees Celsius. The skin temperature is slightly lower than body temperature.
Pulse and respiration vary depending on the period of responsiveness and the child's behavior, but are typically in the range from 120 to 140 beats / minute and from 30 to 60 breaths / minute. Both can be seen for more than 60 seconds to irregularities in the count or rhythm. The apical heart rate is taken with a stethoscope. Blood pressure is usually taken in the newborn. But the 'Mean systolic blood pressure is 2 days 70mm/Hg, 84mm/Hg for 2 weeks and 6 weeks after 93mm/Hg.
