Somatometric studies in allergic children

Somatometric studies were performed in 92 children suffering from allergic complaints: 72 had atopic dermatitis, 12 had asthma and atopic dermatitis as well and eight had urticaria. They were selected into two age groups: group 1 (0.5-2.99 years) and group 2 (3.0-10.50 years for boys and 3.0-9.50 for girls). The mean birthweight, height, severity of disease and treatment of the groups were not different. The frequency of obesity in Hungarian children population is between 11.8% and 15.7%. At the time of investigation the children of the first group were tall and heavy for age (11/36 were above the 90th centile for weight, 14/36 for height and 7/36 for weight for height). According to triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness, relative body weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) they were not fat. In the second group the children were tall for age and their weight for height was also high (20/56 were above the 90th centile). In this prepubertal group BMI, triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness were above the 90th centile in 16/56, 20/56 and 17/56 cases, respectively, and 17/56 exceeded the 120% relative weight (percentage of mean weight for height). Our results suggest that the children studied have a special pattern of somatic development, characterized by high stature and high ratio of obesity in the prepubertal group.