Stages of Childhood

Stages of Childhood

# 1. Prenatal Period (270-280 days)

• Starts: At conception

• Ends: At birth

• Includes: Embryonic period + Fetal period

a. Embryonic Period (First 3 months)

• Characteristics: Increased number of cells rather than mass

• Disease causing agents:

• TORCH infections

• Toxins

• Radiation

b. Fetal Period (Month 3 – Month 9)

• Characteristics: Increased mass rather than number

• Placenta formation: Month 4

• Pathology:

• Child: Fetal growth restriction

• Last 3 months: Premature birth, maternal infection

# 2. Neonatal Period (First 4 weeks after birth)

• Physiology:

• Fetal circulation closes during the first week after birth

• Sucking reflex formation

• Sleep time: 10-19 hours/day

• Pathology:

• Perinatal period (Week 28 – Day 7 after birth):

• Prenatal, maternal, and fetal diseases

• Delivery complications: Growth restriction, fetal asphyxia (due to placenta), severe congenital malformations, early NTSS

• After birth:

• Hypothermia –> metabolic acidosis, hypoxemia, hypoglycemia, kidney water retention

# 3. Breastfeeding Period (1-12 months old)

• Physiology:

• Rapid physical, mental, and motor development

• Brain tissue reaches 75% of adult level

• Energy needs: 120-130 kcal/kg/day

• Pathology:

• Prevention of some infectious diseases before 6 months: Measles, diphtheria, chickenpox, typhoid fever

• Gastrointestinal disorders

• Nervous system not fully myelinated: Full-body reactions such as high fever seizures, cerebral edema

# 4. Primary Teeth Period (1-6 years old)

• Includes: Preschool (1-3 years old) + Kindergarten (4-6 years old)

• Physiology:

• Slower growth rate

• Fastest language development (2-5 years old)

• Loss of control, easy to get angry

• Handedness, gender awareness (3 years old)

• Control of urination, defecation

• Unusual tantrums: Lasting more than 15 minutes, occurring more than 3 times/day

• Brain tissue 100%, small muscles fully developed: 6 years old

• Pathology:

• Loss of appetite

• Infectious diseases

• Allergies

• Accidents

• Poisoning

# 5. Adolescence (7-14 years old)

• Mental and physical:

• Continued growth, but no longer rapid

• Permanent teeth replace primary teeth

• Organs fully developed

• Able to think, judge, intelligent, enjoys listening to friends

• Pathology:

• School-related diseases: Refractive errors, hunchback/scoliosis, dental, skin, KST

• Allergic diseases: Asthma, rheumatoid arthritis

• Acute infections

# 6. Puberty (Starts at 8-13 years old, lasts 3-4 years)

• Energy needs: 80-150 kcal/kg/day

• Mental and physical:

• Endocrine glands are active, causing turmoil

• Pathology:

• Socio-psychological problems: Suicide, pregnancy

• Sexually transmitted diseases, addiction, traffic accidents

• Malignancies

Note:

• Stages of childhood are divided into relative timeframes, and they may vary depending on individual cases.

• Each stage has its own physiological, psychological, and pathological characteristics.

• Understanding these stages helps us to care for and educate children scientifically.