Pediatric Nursing Notes for CNET Exam

1. Growth and Development

Growth

Increase in physical size of the body.
Measured by height, weight, head circumference, chest circumference.

Development

Increase in functional abilities and skills.
Includes physical, mental, emotional, and social development.

Principles of Growth and Development

Continuous process.
Follows cephalocaudal pattern (head to toe).
Follows proximodistal pattern (center to periphery).
Each child develops at an individual rate.

2. Age Classification

Age Group	Age
Neonate	Birth–28 days
Infant	1 month–1 year
Toddler	1–3 years
Preschooler	3–6 years
School-age child	6–12 years
Adolescent	12–18 years

3. Normal Weight and Height

Weight

Birth weight: 2.5–3.5 kg
Doubles by 5 months
Triples by 1 year
Quadruples by 2 years

Height

Birth length: ~50 cm
1 year: ~75 cm
2 years: ~85 cm

4. Developmental Milestones

Infant (1 Year)

Sits without support.
Crawls and stands.
Says “Mama”, “Dada”.
Waves bye-bye.

Toddler (2 Years)

Walks independently.
Climbs stairs.
Uses 2–3 word sentences.

Preschool Child (5 Years)

Skips and hops.
Dresses independently.
Knows colors and numbers.

5. Immunization Schedule (UIP)

Vaccine	Age
BCG, OPV-0, Hepatitis B Birth Dose	At Birth
Pentavalent, OPV, Rotavirus	6, 10, 14 weeks
MR-1	9–12 months
DPT Booster-1	16–24 months
MR-2	16–24 months
DPT Booster-2	5–6 years
Td	10 and 16 years

Important Vaccine Facts

BCG → Tuberculosis
OPV/IPV → Polio
DPT → Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus
MR → Measles & Rubella

6. Breastfeeding

Exclusive Breastfeeding

Birth to 6 months.
No water, honey, or other foods.

Benefits

Provides immunity.
Easily digestible.
Prevents infections.
Strengthens mother-child bonding.

Colostrum

First yellow milk.
Rich in antibodies.
Called “First Immunization”.

7. Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illness (IMNCI)

Danger Signs

Unable to drink/feed.
Convulsions.
Vomits everything.
Lethargic/unconscious.
Fast breathing.

8. Common Childhood Diseases

Diarrhea

Defined as ≥3 loose stools/day.
Main danger: Dehydration.

Management

ORS
Zinc supplementation
Continue feeding

Pneumonia

Signs:

Fast breathing
Chest indrawing
Fever

Measles

Fever
Cough
Koplik spots
Rash

9. Neonatal Care

Essential Newborn Care

Immediate drying.
Skin-to-skin contact.
Delayed cord clamping.
Early breastfeeding within 1 hour.

Low Birth Weight (LBW)

Birth weight < 2.5 kg.

Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC)

Skin-to-skin contact.
Used for low-birth-weight babies.

10. Pediatric Emergencies

Febrile Convulsions

Occur due to high fever.
Common in 6 months–5 years.

Dehydration Signs

Sunken eyes
Dry mouth
Poor skin turgor

ORS Formula

WHO ORS contains glucose and electrolytes.
Prevents dehydration.

11. Vitamin Deficiency Diseases

Vitamin	Deficiency Disease
Vitamin A	Night Blindness
Vitamin B1	Beriberi
Vitamin C	Scurvy
Vitamin D	Rickets
Vitamin K	Bleeding disorders

12. Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM)

Kwashiorkor

Edema
Moon face
Hair changes

Marasmus

Severe wasting
No edema
Old man appearance

Important One-Liners for CNET

Colostrum is the first milk rich in antibodies.
Birth weight doubles by 5 months and triples by 1 year.
BCG vaccine protects against Tuberculosis.
Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for 6 months.
Kangaroo Mother Care is used for low birth weight babies.
Vitamin D deficiency causes Rickets.
Vitamin A deficiency causes Night Blindness.
ORS is used to prevent dehydration.
MR vaccine protects against Measles and Rubella.
Normal neonatal period is birth to 28 days.

Frequently Asked CNET MCQs

Which vaccine leaves a scar on the arm? → BCG
Birth weight is usually doubled by? → 5 months
Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended up to? → 6 months
Vitamin D deficiency causes? → Rickets
Low birth weight is defined as weight less than? → 2.5 kg
First immunization of a child is? → Colostrum
Kangaroo Mother Care is mainly used for? → LBW babies
MR vaccine protects against? → Measles and Rubella
Which vitamin deficiency causes night blindness? → Vitamin A
Best fluid for dehydration in diarrhea? → ORS