Evolution of skin reflexes in the first years of life.

The evolution of 28 skin reflexes was recorded. In a group of term infants (group A) the 14 limb reflexes disappeared by about 16 months of age and the 14 predominantly truncal reflexes persisted beyond that age. A second group of healthy infants (group B) were followed until the end of their third year. This study and the following cross-sectional study of healthy children from four to 14 years (group C) showed that the same 14 (limb) skin reflexes disappeared early at about the end of the first year. Another four limb reflexes disappeared during the second and third years. These 18 reflexes formed the group with 'early' disappearance. Nine trunk reflexes, mainly dorsal, disappeared between the fifth and 14th years: these formed the group with 'late' disappearance. Abdominal skin reflexes did not disappear. This information concerning time of disappearance is significant when assessing development and for prognosis, since the persistance or reappearance of reflexes which normally disappear indicates a pathological state.