[Frequently ill children's physical development].

The changes in the physical development of frequently ill children (FIC) aged 3-7 years are considered. The rate of an increase in the height and body weight of FIC has been found to differ from that of these indices in occasionally ill children (OIC). By the age of 7 years, FIC are statistically smaller than OIC of the same age. It is also shown that 56.6% of FIC have physical development deviations while the latter are present only in 21.2% of OIC. In both groups, these deviations are more frequently encountered in boys than in girls. Creating the optimum conditions for children's physical development care and promotion will substantially improve their health status, increase the number of children annually stricken off the register of FIC, and reduce the number of days missed by a child for sickness.