PAEDIATRIC AUXOLOGY IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Krásnicanová Hana. Lesny Petr, Janda Jan,

1st Department of Paediatrics, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague-Motol, Czech Republic, e-mail: Hana. Krasnicanova@lfmotol.cuni. cz

The most effective method of the statement of the growth diagnosis is the graphical evaluation of the measured anthropometric data using the appropriate growth charts or special computer programmes, which construct the growth curves. Both these tools are available for the paediatricians in the Czech Republic.

The the Czech "Health and Vaccination Record" contains, since 1995, the special auxological section with our recommended interpretation of the findings. In 1998 our original auxological computer programme "Growth 2" has been introduced. This programme mathematically processes and visualises basic anthropometric data using the latest (1991) national standards and includes expert help texts. The programme also evaluates the genetic familial growth potential of the child, sexual maturation according Tanner and Prader, and finally it can correct the body height by the bone age. This computer programme has been distributed to the paediatricians in the Czech Republic free of charge and is currently available on the www pages of the 2nd Faculty of Medicine of Charles University, both in the Czech and English versions.

Our latest contribution to the good quality of the growth evaluation is the universal auxological computer module. This module is a special computer programme, which is designed to cooperate with a common software used by paediatric practitioners working on the level of primary care. The functions of this module are presented on the Internet in two variants. The first one is designed to help parents to evaluate the growth of their children using their personal computers at home. The second variant is prepared for the physicians, who have access to all the functions of the module.

The main impact on the making of the growth diagnosis until now have the percentile growth charts available in the "Health and Vaccination Record". This booklet is distributed to all mothers already in the maternity.

The attention of the parents is systematically drawed to evaluate the basic growth parameters in their children and to stimulate the family responsibility for the normal development of children.

As for the future, with the increasing importance of computers and the Internet in the paediatric offices and wards, we expect the computers to play a major role in the diagnostic procedures.

http://www.lf2.cuni.cz/projects/child-growth http://www.lt2.cuni.cz/projects/child-growth/physician

Supported by the Grant Agency of the Charles University - GAUK 184/1998