Arztliche Jugendkunde最新文献

A random sample of the neuropediatric patients in our department, i.e. pre-school children of normal intelligence with brain injuries or suspected brain injuries, was investigated using a neuropsychological test system and compared with an age-standardized population of uninjured children. The results clearly indicate that is possible to register partial disorders of performance achievement already at the pre-school age. These disorders have special relevance for success at school, particularly in the initial stages. Practicable psychological-diagnostic possibilities and consequences for the care of such children have been derived from this study.

Results of a follow-up study of the lateralisation of motory and sensory functions are presented. The development of handedness, the preference of one leg, one eye and one ear was determined for about 200 probands at the age of 3/4 to 17 years. Three types of lateralisation were found: (i) the "non-right" motory and sensory functions type (ambivalence); (ii) the "right" motory functions/"non-right" sensory functions type; (iii) the "right" motory and sensory functions type (univalence).

Based on original papers and diaries of the German scout movement (1900-1933), an extensive survey is given of the information available concerning the nutrition of children and youth in the scout movement and hiking groups. In contrast to the idea that strong sectarian influences affected their nutrition (vegetarianism etc.), the analyses and comparisons do not confirm this assumption.

This paper reports on new aspects of the prophylactic care programme, with particular emphasis being laid on prophylactic examination for children of pre-school age. An account is given of the interrelations between the various check ups. Prophylactic examination in the fifth year of age--mass screening No. 10 as the first school entrance examination--is the main priority during this period. The major issues relating to case history, physical, locomotor, and psychosocial development, behaviour, and classical status are described in detail and are offered as a graduated programme.

Radiologic bone measurements for determination of the skeletal maturation were conducted in 243 children with bronchial asthma. The authors describe marked retardation of skeletal maturation as a general phenomenon of the atopic asthma. The grade of retardation is greater in atopics than in non-atopic asthmatics. The grade of quantitative response to allergic tests is significantly correlated with the extent of retardation of the skeletal maturation. It is discussed that in addition to asthma, eczema and allergic rhinitis the retardation of the skeletal bone maturation could be a further original manifestation of atopia.

Two groups of 6-8 children aged 3-4 years with a mental retardation of 6 to 9 months were educated in special Kindergarten groups for one year. The effects were checked three times during the year and in the children's third or fourth year at school. A control group matched for age and mental development continued in the Kindergarten as usual and was checked in the same way. As we had supposed, the children in the small groups demonstrated better results in their mental and behavioural development after one year of special education. There was also some evidence that it had a positive effect up to the age of 10 years. The positive effect on their behaviour was more pronounced (according to psychological examinations, school marks and questionnaires for teachers and mothers) than on their intellectual performance. Thus, special education in small groups can promote a more harmonious development of the personality of slightly retarded children.

A report is given about the results of physical activities in spare time and the physical capacities of 967 pupils of the 7th to 10th form. These pupils were asked and examined in 1987 in the country of Hohenmölsen. Particularly, the results are compared with the basic investigation on pupils of the same age in 1983. Nearly half of the pupils finished an interventional programme. The other part served as a control group. The comparison of both cross-section investigations even as the statements of a longitudinal-section study and a cross-section study from 1985 documented a good up to a very good increase of physical activities in spare time and physical capacities with regard to the complex test and long-distance race, especially at girls. The control group also shows an increase of the examined parameters. Finally, aspects for the improvement of the results in both groups are discussed.

The possibility of obtaining information on growth and development from prehistoric and early historic skeletal remains of children and juveniles is discussed. Beside simple measurements of length there are some new methods of assessment, e.g. control of "Harris' lines", thickness of bone corticalis including cremated bones, diameters of neural canal and vertebral body height. Estimation of age based on dentition must be presumed in every case. Results show oscillations rather than a linear or curved trend in only on direction. The phenomenon of acceleration can also not be seen as a return to earlier phases of mankind.

Head circumference is an important growth parameter; it is closely related to brain development in normal infants. Therefore regular meticulous measurements of head circumference can give diagnostic hints of abnormal brain growth, i. e., reduced growth as in severe malnutrition or accelerated as in hydrocephalus, for example. The results presented here are based on the Bonn Longitudinal Study on growth and development; 150 infants (65 preterm and 85 full-term) were measured regularly from birth. Head circumference of the parents was also measured. For the full term infants the highest correlation was found between mother and daughter (r = 0.75), in the preterm infants the highest correlation was seen between mother and son (r = 0.65). In the Bonn Longitudinal Study and in a recent additional Bonn Study no positive secular trend of head circumference was observed which agrees with results of others. Interestingly enough, growth of head circumference behaves completely differently from that of height in the Bonn Study, where a positive secular trend was observed.