허약아(虛弱兒)의 성장(成長)에 관(關)한 연구(硏究)

The clinical study of the Growth stature on Weak children

Objective: The purpose of this study were to examine the growth pattern of weak children by measurement according to the five weak symptoms (respiratory, digestive, psycho-neurological, neuromotor, urogenital symptom). Five weak symptoms are common etiology of short stature in childhood and oriental medicine therapy is used as a treatment in short stature but the effects on height are not conclusive. Methods: This clinical study had been carried out with the 166 case (male 74, female 92) of the children aged 3 to 18 years old who visited in growth clinic of Pediatrics, Dongguk university Bundang Oriental Hospital. They were divided into 3 groups by age (3-10, 11-14, 15-18 years group) Five weak symptoms were studied to determine the association with growth stature among children by comparison with the growth stature of weak children group and normal group Results: The distribution of age showed the highest in 11-14 years(58.4%), followed by I 3-10 years (26.5%), over 15years(15%) in order. In case of male, the distribution of five weak symptoms showed the highest respiratory weak symptom(68.9%), followed by digestive(52.7%), psycho-neurological(43.2%), neuromotor(24.3%), urogenital weak symptom (143.5%) and digestive weak children's Height SDS were lower than normal children in all age groups and respiratory weak children's Height SDS were lower than normal children in age group of 3-10. In case of female, the distribution of five weak symptoms showed the highest digestive weak symptom(59.8%), followed by respiratory(52.5%), psycho-neurological(51.5%), neuromotor (35.9%), urogenital weak symptom (25%) and digestive weak children's Height SDS were lower than normal children in age group of 3-14. Other weak children Height SDS were no significant difference from normal group. Conclusions: From the above result, it was suggested that weak symptoms is cause in short stature. These data indicate that the height was correlated with respiratory, digestive weak symptom and a way to improve the weakness increased significantly height in children growth stature. Growth stature should be investigated as a new field of oriental medical treatment and more controlled, long term studies are required to classify benefits of Oriental medicine therapy in short stature.