Growth and development proceeds from head to toe (cephalocaudal).

In the infant, muscular control follows the spine downward.

For example, infants will hold up their head before they sit.

Growth and development proceeds from the center outward or from the midline to the periphery (proximodistal).

For example, the large muscle of the arms and legs are subject to voluntary control sooner than the fine muscles of the hands and feet.

Activities move from being generalized toward being more focused.

For example, the child will use the whole hand before the picking up a small object between the thumb and forefinger.

The heart rate as heard with a stethoscope placed on the chest wall adjacent to the cardiac apex (top of the heart).

(AY-pih-kal puhls)

An absence of spontaneous respiration.

(ap-NEE-ah)

A pervasive developmental disorder characterized by the individual being extremely withdrawn and absorbed with fantasy. The individual suffers from impaired communication/social interaction skills, and activities and interest are very limited.

The body temperature as recorded by a thermometer placed in the armpit.

The reading is generally 0.5 to 1.0 degree less than the oral temperature.

A common abnormal respiratory sound heard on auscultation of the chest during inspiration, characterized by discontinuous bubbling noises.

(CRACK-l'z)

The eruption of teeth. This occurs in a sequential pattern, with 20 primary teeth erupting between the ages of 6 to 30 months.

(den-TIH-shun)

Pertaining to or characterized by an elevated body temperature, such as a febrile reaction to an infectious agent.

(FEE-brill)

A pathological condition characterzied by an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid, usually under increased pressure, within the cranial vault and subsequent dilatation of the ventricles;

also called hydrocephaly.

(high-droh-SEFF-ah-lus)

Length

(Recumbent)

The measurement of the distance from the crown of the infant's head to the infant's heel while the infant is lying on the back with legs extended.

(ree-KUM-bent)

A congenital anomaly characterized by abnormal smallness of the head in relation to the rest of the body and by underdevelopment of the brain, resulting in some degree of mental retardation.

(my-kroh-SEFF-ah-lus)

A medical doctor who specilizes in neonatology.

(nee-oh-nay-TALL-oh-jist)

The medical specialiy concerned with the disease and abnormalities of the newborn infant.

(nee-oh-nay-TALL-oh-jee)

An inflammation of the umbilical stump, marked by redness, swelling, and purulent exudate in sevre cases.

(om-fal-EYE-tis)

Congenital herniation of intra-abdominal viscera through a defect in the abdominal wall around the umbilicus.

(om-FAL-oh-seel)

Drainage from the umbilicus (navel).

(om-fal-oh-REE-ah)

Pertaining to preventive and primary health care and treatment of children and the study of childhood diseases.

(pee-dee-AT-riks)

Pertaining to early signs or symptoms that mark the onset of a diseases.

(pro-DROH-mal)

Fever

(pie-REK-see-ah)

The displacement of tissues to expose a part or structure of the body;

retractions may be seen around the ribs in a child or infant with respiratory distress.

(rih-TRAK-shun)

Natural height of a person in an upright position.

(STAT-yoor)

An abnormal, high-pitched, musical sound caused by an obstruction in the trachea or larynx.

(STRIGH-dor)

A toxin that has been treated with chemicals or with heat to decrease its toxic effect but that retains its ability to cause the production of antibodies.

(TOKS-oyd)

Chickenpox

(varicella)

A viral disease of sudden onset with slight fever, successive eruptions of macules, papules, and vesicles on the skin followed by crusting over of the lesions with a granular scab. Itching may be severe.

(Macules are discolorations at normal skin level; papules are raised pimplelike skin blemishes; and vesicles are blisterlike.)

Serious infectious disease affecting the nose, pharynx, or laryns, usually resulting in sore throat, dysphonia (difficult speaking or hoarseness), and fever. The disease is caused by the bacterium. Corynebacterium diphtheriae, which forms a white coating over the affected airways as it multiplies.

Once released into the bloodstream it can quickly damage the heart and nerves, resulting in hearth failure, paraylsis, and death.

(diff-THEE-ree-ah)

Erythema Inectiosum

(fifth disease)

A viral disease characterized by a face that appears as "slapped cheeks,: a fiery red rash on the checks.

Caused by the human parvovirus.

(air-ih-THEE-mah in-fek-she-OH-sum)

Contagious, superficial skin infection characterized by serous vesicles and pustules filled with millions of staphylococcus or strptococcus bacteria, usually forming on the face.

(im-peh-TYE-goh)

Mumps

(Infectious Parotitis)

Acute viral disease characterized by fever, swelling, and tenderness of one or more salivary glands, usually the parotide glands (below and in front of the ears).

Caused by the mumps virus.

(in-FEK-shus pah-roh-TYE-tis)

Pertussis

(Whooping Cough)

An acute, upper respiratory infectious disease caused by teh Bordetella pertussis bacterium.

(per-TUSS-is)

A viral disease with a sudden onset of a high fever for three to four days, during which time the child may experience mild cold-like symptoms and slight irritability. Fibrile seizures may occur.

Infectious agent is the herpesvirus 6.

(roh-zee-OH-lah in-FAN-tum)

Rubella

(German measles; 3-day measles)

A mild febrile (fever-causing) infectious disease resembling both scarlet fever and measles but differeing from these in its short course; characterized by a rash of both macules and papules that fades and disappears in three days.

(roo-BELL-lah)

Rubeola

("red measles," 7-day measles)

Acute, highly communicable viral disease that begins as an upper respiratory disorder with fever, sore throat, cough, runny nose, sensitivity to light, and possible conjunctivitis. Typically red, blotchy rash appears four to five days after onset of symptoms, beginning behind the ears, on the forehead, or cheeks and progressing to extremities and trunk and lasting about five days.

(roo-bee-OH-lah)

Scarlet Fever

(scarlatina)

An acute, contagious disease characterized by sore throat, abrupt high fever, increased pulse, strawberry tongue (red and swollen), and punctiform (pointlike) bright red rash on the body.

Infectious agent is group A, betahemolytic streptococci.

(scar-lah-TEE-nah)

is a congenital defect in which there is an open space between the nasal cavity and the lip due to failure of the soft tissue and bones in this area to fuse properly during embryologic development. 

With cleft palate, there is failure of the hard palate to fuse, resulting in a fissue (cracklike sore) in the middle of the palate. 

Clubfoot

(talipes equinovarus)

The medical term for clubfoot is talipes equinovarus. In this condition, the infant's foot is fixed in plantar flexion (turned downward) and deviates medially (turned inward), and the heel is in a elevated position. Therefore, the infant's foot cannot remain in normal position with the sole of the foot firmly on the floot. 

(TAL-ih-peez eh-kwin-oh-VAIR-us)

A congenital heart defect characterized by a localized narrowing of the aorta, which results in increased blood pressure in the upper extremities (area proxiaml to  the defect) and decreased blood pressure in the lower extremities (area distal to the defect). 

The classic sign of this is a contrast in pulsations and blood pressures in the arms and legs. 

(koh-ark-TAY-shun of the ay-OR-tah)

A congenital defect (birth defect) in which the urethra opens on the upper side of the penis at some point near the glans. 

(ep-ih-SPAY-dee-as)

A congenital abnormality of the esophagus due to its ending before it reaches the stomach either as a blind pouch or as a fistual connected to the trachea. 

(ee-soff-ah-JEE-al ah-TREE-zee-ah)

A proportional overgrowth of the body's tissue due to the hypersecretion of the human growth hormone before puberty. 

Chief acceleration is in the long bones. 

Most often due to an adenoma of the anterior pituitary. 

(GYE-gan-tizm)

Also known as respiratory distress syndrome of the premature infant (RDS), it is severe impairment of the function of respiration in the premature newborn. this condition is rarely present in a newborn of greatern than 37 weeks' gestation or in one weighing at least 5 bounds. 

(HIGH-ah-lighn MEM-brayn dih-ZEEZ)

An accumulation of fluid in any saclike cavity or duct, particularly the scrotal sac or along the spermatic cord. 

(HIGH-droh-seel)

An abnormal increase of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain that causes the ventricles of the brain to dilate, resulting in an increased head circumference in the infant with open fontanel(s); congenital disorder. 

(hgih-droh-SEFF-ah-lus)

A congenital defect in which the urethra open on the underside of the penis instead of at the end. 

(high-poh-SPAY-dee-as)

Telescoping of a portion of proxiaml intestine into distal intestine (usually in the ileocecal region), causing an obstruction. 

(in-tuh-suh-SEP-shun)

An abnormal opening between the pulmonary artery and the aorta caused by failure of the fetal ductus arteriosus to close after birth. This defect is seen primarily in premature infants. 

(PAY-tent DUK-tus ar-tee-ree-OH-suss)

Shaken Baby Syndrome 

(SBS)

A congenital defect of the central nervous system in which the back portion of one or more vertebrae is not closed. A dimpling over the area may occur. 

(SPY-nah BIH-fih-dah oh-KULL-tah)

The completely unexpected and unexplaiend death of an apparently well, or virutally well, infant. SID is also known as "crib death."

A congenital disorder caused by altered lipid metabolism due to an enyme deficiency. 

An accumulation of a specific type of lipid occurs in the brain, leading to progressive neurological deterioration with both physical and mental retardation. 

(TAY-SACKS dih-ZEEZ)

A congenital heart anomaly that consists of four defects: pulmonary stenosis, interventricular septal defect, dextroposition (shifting to the right) of the aorta so that it receives blood from both ventricles, and hypertrophy of the right ventricle; named for teh French physician, Etienne FAllot, who first described the condition. 

(teh-TRALL-oh-jee of fal-OH)

A condition in which the two major arteries of the heart are revered in position, resulting in two noncommunicating circulatory systems. 

The aorta arises from the right venticle (instead of the left). (never reaches the lungs)

The left artery arises from the left ventricle (instead of the right) and delivers blood to the lungs for oxygenation. (never goes out to the body). 

An outward protrusion of the intestine through a weakness in teh abdominal wall around the umbilicus (navel, or "belly button"). 

Usually closes spontaneously within the first two years of life. 

is a method of obtaining a blood sample from a newborn or premature infant by making a shallow puncture of lateral or medial area of the plantar (sole of the foot) surface of the heel; 

also called a "heel stick"