ABSTRACT
Introduction 3 Growth 3 Normal physical development 6
Normal behavioural and psychological development 10 Child health 15 References 18
Paediatric anaesthesia is distinct from adult anaesthesia. The pathology, procedures and intercurrent illnesses differ and, most importantly, children in themselves are different. Together with size and proportion, their physiology and behaviour also undergo substantial change with age. Understanding how a child grows and develops is fundamental to paediatric anaesthesia.
