GENERAL APPEARANCE EXAMINATION OF INFANT OR CHILD

GENERAL APPEARANCE EXAMINATION OF INFANT OR CHILD

Note the infant cry. A high pitched shrill cry may suggest meningitis. A week cry may be the result of grave illness, respiratory muscle weakness or generalized weakness. A child in agony because of pain may give a strong cry. A child appearing comfortable in the bed or on the table but irritable in mother’s lap, the so-called “paradoxical irritability”, should arouse suspicion of such conditions as poliomyelitis, scurvy, infantile cortical hyperostosis or acrodynia.

Vital signs at different ages

Age group               Pulse/min       Respiration/mm     Temperature(degree C)

Newborn                  140                  40                             36.0 to 37.0

1 Year                      120                  30                             36.5 to 37.5

5 Years                     100                  20                            37.0(+or -) 0.2

10 Years                   90                    18                            37.0(+or -) 0.2

Above 10years          80                   18                             37.0(+or -) 0.2

A “frog-like” posture may mean poliomyelitis or scurvy.