The document outlines the significant physiological, anatomical, cognitive, social, and emotional differences between children and adults, affecting healthcare provision. It highlights key variations in systemic functions such as the respiratory, circulatory, gastrointestinal, and neurological systems, as well as differences in developmental stages and health concerns. Additionally, the document emphasizes the importance of understanding these differences for effective healthcare management and planning for future development in children and adolescents.

1. DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN
CHILD & ADULT
Prepared by:
Chandani Modi
Child Health Nursing

3. INTRODUCTION:
• There are a many differences between
children and adults like physiological,
anatomical, cognitive, social and
emotional.
• these all impact on the way illness and
disease present in children and young
people, as well as the way healthcare is
provided.

4. Difference Between Child &Adult
Systemic
Changes
Psychological
Difference
Pathologic
changes

5. Anatomic & Physiologic Difference
CHILDREN ADULTS
New-born's head is larger &
heavier as compared to his
body
Adults head is not heavier
than body
Thinner skin- Children have
thinner skin than adults.
Adult skin not as much
thinner than children.
Rapidly dividing cells-
Children's cells divide more
rapidly than adults
Normal cell division
No tears in early infancy There is tears formation in
eyes.
No voluntary control over the
environment or activity.
Voluntary control On body

6. Systemic
Difference
Integumentary
System
Respiratory
System
Heart &
Circulatory
System
Hematologic
System
Urinary
System
Gastrointestina
l
Endocrine
System
Reproductive
System
Musculoskeletal
System
Neurologic
System
Lymhoid &
Immune
System

8. INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM
CHILDREN ADULT
 The apocrine sweat
gland - small and non-
functional from birth to
preschool years.
 Start functioning at 8
years of age.
Apocrine gland are
properly developed in
axillae, areolae & genital
area.
Skin Problems:-
1)lenier’s disease
2)sclerema neonatorum.
3)tinea capitis
4)tinea pedis.
This type of skin problem
not seen in adult

10. Respiratory System
CHILDREN ADULT
Respiration Rate :-30–
60 breath/min
Heart Rate:-100-160
beats/min
Respiration Rate :-16-
20 breath/min
Heart Rate/Pulse
Rate:-60-80 beats/min
Tissues of respiratory
tract are delicate &
do not produce
sufficient mucus.
Sufficient Amount of
mucus
no protection from
invasion of infectious
microorganism
protection
from invasion of
infectious micro-

11. Difference between Adult and Fetal
Circulation
Characteristics Adult Circulation Fetal Circulation
Artery
Carries oxygenated
blood away from
the heart
Carries Non-
oxygenated blood
away from the fetal
heart
Veins
Carries non-
oxygenated blood
towards the heart
Carries oxygenated
blood back to the
heart
Exchange of Gases
Takes places in the
lungs
Takes place in the
placenta
Pressure
Increase pressure
on the left side of
the heart
Increase pressure
on the right side of
the heart

13. Fetal circulation:

14. Fetal circulation:
1. Oxygenated blood from the placenta enters the
fetus through the umbilical vein.
2. Most of the newly oxygenated blood bypasses
the liver via the Ductus Venosus & combines
with deoxygenated blood in Inferior Vena Cava.
3. Blood then joins deoxygenated blood from the
superior vena cava & empties into the right
atrium.
4. Since pressure in the right atrium is larger than
pressure of left atrium, most blood will be
shunted through the Foramen Ovale.

15. Contd.
5. Some blood does travel from the right atrium to
right ventricle through the pulmonary trunk but
most blood bypasses the pulmonary arteries &
moves directly to the aorta via the Ductus
arteriosus.
6. Deoxygenated blood returns to the placenta via
the umbilical arteries originating from internal iliac
artery near the bladder.

16. Post natal circulatory system changes
1. With the first breath, increased alveolar O2 pressure
causes vasodilation in the pulmonary vessels.
2. Obstetrical clamping induces spontaneous constriction
& change of umbilical vein to ligamnetum teres &
umbilical arteries to Medical umbilical ligaments.
3. Within 10-15 hours after birth, the ductus arteriosus
constricts & become the ligamentum arteriosum
4. Increased left atrial pressure & decreased right atrial
pressure causes the foramen ovale to close & become
the Fossa Ovalis
5. The ductus venosus also constricts & will become the
ligamentum venosum.

17. Hematologic System
CHILDREN ADULT
New-born RBC are
Microcytic.
Microcytic=mcv<80
Adult RBC are
Macrocytic.
Macrocytic=MCV>100
Life Span of RBC are
60-90 days.
Life Span of RBC are
100-120 days.
BLOOD VOLUME:
Neonate- 85 ml/kg of
BW
BLOOD VOLUME:
Adult- 60-70 ml/kg of
BW.

18. URINARY SYSTEM
CHILDREN ADULT
Infant’s kidneys are
immature with reduced
ability to filtrate &
concentrate urine.
Kidneys are mature
enough for proper
functioning.
Nephron are not grow &
functioning.
Nephrons are properly
functioning.
Not under voluntary
control.
under voluntary control

19. Gastrointestinal System
CHILDREN ADULT
it is quite relaxed in infants
resulting in frequent
regurgitation & vomiting
during infancy
The cardiac sphincter of
stomach is fairly tight in
adults
GI functioning is immature
& involuntary
Proper GI functioning &
voluntary control
Temporary teeth Permanent teeth
Stool of neonate is loose
Liver size:- 4% of body
weight.
Stool of adult is hard.
Liver is 12-13 times its birth
weight.

20. CHILDREN
The endocrine glands
which secrete hormones
are least developed at birth
homeostatic control is lacking till
the age of 12-18 months
ADULT
Properly
developed
Properly
mature
Endocrine System

21. Reproductive System
Girl
Ovaries in a baby girl
are approximately 10
mm in length & 2-4
mm in width.
Functioning of ovary
started at the age of
12-13 years of age.
Faulty development
of ovaries leads to
precocious puberty or
delayed puberty
Boy
Testes in male
baby, at birth are
1.5-2 cm long &
0.7-1 cm wide.
The size of testes
increases gradually
& reaches maturity
between 13-17
years.

22. Musculoskeletal System
The sutures in skull of new-born are not united.
The infants bones are neither as firm nor as brittle as
of adults so fractures rarely occur in infants & if it all
they occur, healing is very quick
In children height increases as bones grow at epiphyses
whereas in adults height doesn’t increase after certain
age.

24. Neurologic System
CHILDREN ADULT
The weight of brain of
neonates is about 300-500
grams.
The weight of brain of adult
is about 1,300 - 1,400
grams.
Reflex activities that are
present during infancy.
disappear in adult as
voluntary control is
developed.
VISION:- eyes are not
anatomically mature, not
able to function.
VISION:- eyes are mature
& function properly.
HEARING:- Neonate can
heard loud noise at birth.
Adult can Listen softer &
soothing sound.

26. Lymphoid &Immune
System
• The maturation of lymphoid system varies
with the child’s age.
• The lymphoid tissue is small but well
developed at birth.
• It increase rapidly in size up to the age of
10-11 years.

27. PSYCHOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES
NEWBORN Fear , escape and avoid strangers
INFANCY more bonding with parents.
Separation anxiety is very
common.
TODLLER Negativistic behaviors
PRESCHOOLER short attention span, easily distract
able.
SCHOOLER Industry Vs. inferiority
ADOLESCENT Identity of peer, confusion

28. SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

29. COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT

30. Pathologic changes
1)IMBALANCE OF FLUID & ELECTROLYE
• Child lose fluid easily as compared to adults.in
conditions like diarrhoea,vomitting,burns etc
• Child get dehydrate easily.
2) RESISTANCE TO DISEASES
• The baby gets immunity from mother which helps the
baby fight against infections for first 3 months of life.
3) Sign & symptoms of disease in children are
different from adults.

31. Summary
As well as the more obvious physiological and
cognitive differences between children than adults,
working with children and adolescents requires the
consideration of future development- physical,
social, emotional cognitive- as of primary
importance. The need to be aware of the context
in which a child or adolescent lives and functions is
crucial for both the provision of appropriate
management as well as planning for future
healthcare.