Pediatric Growth and Development Flashcards
7 cards from real MCCQE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Pediatric Growth and Development flashcards as text
A 2-year-old with Down syndrome has a height at the 50th percentile on standard WHO growth charts. What is the correct interpretation?
Answer: Tall stature for Down syndrome
Children with Down syndrome have shorter expected stature; their growth should be plotted on Down syndrome–specific growth charts, where the 50th percentile on standard charts would represent tall stature.
Which finding on developmental assessment at 12 months is the most concerning red flag?
Answer: Does not point to show objects
Absence of declarative pointing (pointing to share interest) by 12 months is a red flag for autism spectrum disorder and requires urgent developmental assessment.
A 7-year-old boy is brought in for short stature. He is growing at 4 cm/year. Bone age is 7 years. Thyroid function and IGF-1 are normal. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Answer: Familial short stature
Familial short stature features a bone age matching chronological age, normal growth velocity, and a family history of short stature, distinguishing it from constitutional delay where bone age is delayed.
At what age do most children achieve daytime bladder control (daytime continence)?
Answer: 2–3 years
Most children achieve reliable daytime bladder control between ages 2 and 3 years, though nighttime dryness may take longer.
A 16-month-old child is not yet walking. Which factor most strongly indicates a need for urgent neurological evaluation rather than watchful waiting?
Answer: Loss of previously achieved motor milestones
Regression (loss) of previously acquired motor milestones is always a red flag requiring urgent neurological investigation regardless of age.
A 14-year-old girl is at Tanner stage 1 with no signs of puberty. Her karyotype returns 45,X. Which additional finding is most likely?
Answer: Elevated FSH and LH
Turner syndrome (45,X) causes primary ovarian insufficiency; without negative feedback from estrogen, FSH and LH are markedly elevated (hypergonadotropic hypogonadism).
A healthy term infant's birth weight is 3.2 kg. By what age should this infant regain birth weight after the expected physiological weight loss?
Answer: 14 days
Neonates typically lose up to 7–10% of birth weight in the first few days and should regain birth weight by 10–14 days of life.