Growth Centile Assessment for 6-Year-9-Month-Old Girl
This child's measurements place her at approximately the 25th centile for weight (18.1 kg) and 25th-50th centile for height (118 cm) on UK WHO growth charts, indicating normal healthy growth that requires no intervention. 1
Growth Chart Interpretation
Appropriate Reference Standards
- For children aged 24 months and older, CDC growth charts extending through age 19 years should be used, though the UK has adopted WHO growth standards which are appropriate for this age group 1
- At 6 years 9 months, this child's measurements should be plotted on the appropriate growth chart for children over 24 months 1
Percentile Position Analysis
- Weight of 18.1 kg at this age corresponds to approximately the 25th percentile, meaning 25% of healthy children weigh less and 75% weigh more 1
- Height of 118 cm places her between the 25th-50th percentile range, indicating average stature 1
- Both measurements are well above the 2.3rd percentile (2 standard deviations below median), which is the threshold for identifying children whose growth might indicate adverse health conditions 1
Clinical Significance
Normal Growth Pattern
- Consistent percentile tracking is the key indicator of healthy growth—when a child maintains growth along the same percentile curve over time, this represents normal constitutional growth, not pathology 1
- Growth charts represent a range of normal, not a target, and healthy children naturally distribute across all percentiles 1
- The 25th percentile is entirely within the normal range and does not warrant concern or intervention 1
Thresholds for Concern
- Values below the 2.3rd percentile (labeled as 2nd percentile on growth charts) are recommended for identifying children whose growth might indicate adverse health conditions 1
- This child's measurements are approximately 10-20 percentile points above this threshold, placing her firmly in the healthy range 1
Monitoring Recommendations
Routine Surveillance
- Serial measurements every 3-6 months are recommended to track growth velocity and ensure the child maintains a parallel trajectory along her percentile curve 1
- Growth velocity over time using multiple data points should be used in conjunction with other medical and family history to assess appropriate growth 1
When to Escalate Care
- Further assessment would only be warranted if the child falls below the 2.3rd percentile or demonstrates a drop of 40 percentile points, representing clinically significant growth faltering 1
- A progressive decrease crossing downward through percentile lines would indicate true growth faltering requiring evaluation 1
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Do not overdiagnose underweight in children tracking consistently at lower percentiles, as this can damage parent-child interactions and subject families to unnecessary medical evaluations 1
- Do not pursue extensive evaluation for children maintaining their growth curve above the 2nd percentile threshold 1
- Ensure accurate measurement techniques with calibrated equipment, as inaccurate measurements may result in missed diagnosis or incorrect diagnosis of healthy children 1