ADOLESCENCE  gain second molars (age 13)

 Gain third molars (wisdom teeth) between

• period between 13 years and 18 to 20 years 18 to 21 years of age
• serves as a transition period between childhood PUBERTY
and adulthood
 Individual is capable sexual reproduction
• It can be divided into
o A girl begins to menstruate
 early period – 13 to 14 years
 middle period – 15 to 16 years o A boy begins to produce
 late period – 17 to 20 years spermatozoa
• is the physiology period between the beginning o Occur between ages 11 to 14
puberty and the cessation of bodily growth
SEXUAL MATURATION IN ADOLESCENTS
PHYSICAL GROWTH

 onset of puberty
 cessation of body growth
 Physiologic growth is rapid but adult
coordination is slow
 Gain in physical growth is mostly in weight

GIRLS

• 1 to 2 inches (2.4 to 5 cm) taller than boys

and generally stop growing 3 years after
menarche
• grow 2 to 8 inches (5 to 20 cm) in height
• gain 15 to 55 lb (7 to 25 kg)
• 16-17 years
• Growth stops with closure of the epiphyseal lines
of long bones.

BOYS

• grow about 4 to 12 inches (10 to 30 cm) in

height
• gain 15 to 65 lb (7 to 30 kg)
• 18 to 20 years
- Growth stops with closure of the epiphyseal DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES
lines of long bones
 Young adolescents
o great time playing sports
o Team loyalty is intense
 The skeletal system grows faster than the
muscles o following a coach’s instruction is
 the muscles mass increases more rapidly mandatory
than heart size o spend a great deal of time just
 lead to lack of coordination and poor posture talking with peers
 makes adolescents appear long-legged and  Fifteen years old
awkward (extremities elongate first, followed o spend most of their time in their
by the trunk growth) room or in a quiet corner where they
 PR 70 bpm have privacy
 RR 20 breaths/min  Sixteen years old
 BP 120/70 mm Hg o want part time jobs to earn money
 With adulthood, BP becomes slightly higher o They accept responsibility willingly
in males than females (more force is o spend their money wisely
necessary to distribute blood to larger male  Many adolescents engage in charitable
body mass) endeavors
TEETH
 o They learn that they are strong and
capable to help less fortunate people in
their community
o fulfill need for satisfying interaction with
others
o indications of maturity and willingness to
accept adult roles

Identify Versus Role Confusion

Early

 To decide who they are and what kind of person

they will be

Late

 to form a sense of intimacy vs. isolation

 form close relationship with persons of the
opposite sex as well as the same sex

Four sense of identity

 Accepting their changed body image

 Establishing a value system or what kind of
person they want to be
 Making a career decision
 Becoming emancipated from their parents

FAILURE OF THE TASK

 will have difficulty in making decisions

 Will have difficulty as adults DAILY ACTIVITIES OF THE ADOLESCENTS
 may become delinquent
 exhibit attention getting behavior CARE OF TEETH

COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT  very conscientious about tooth brushing

o fear of developing bad breath
 STAGE OF FORMAL OPERATIONS
 They should use fluoride toothpaste
o begins at age 12 or 13 years
 Those with braces must be conscientious in
o grows in depth over the adolescent brushing their teeth
years o prevent plaque buildup on tooth
 Involves ability to think in abstract terms surfaces
 use the scientific method to arrive at conclusions
SLEEP
PROMOTING ADOLESCENT SAFETY
 They need 8 hours of sleep
 Frequent lack of sleep can lead to chronic
fatigue

COMMON HEALTH PROBLEMS OF THE

ADOLESCENT

HYPERTENSION

o BP is above the 95th percentile or

127/81 mm Hg for 16 years old
o Susceptible are:
 Obese
 eat a diet high in salt
 have a family history of HPN

POOR POSTURE
  A tendency to round shoulder and a shambling, SUBSTANCE ABUSE
slouching walk
- due to the imbalance growth  use of chemicals to improve the mental state of
 Posture should be assessed induce euphoria
- to detect beginning scoliosis  Due to a desire to expand consciousness or to
feel more confident and mature
FATIGUE  Due to a response to peer pressure or a form of
adolescent’s rebellion
 Assess if it is already beginning
o Diet Type of abused substances:
o sleep pattern
o cigarettes
o activity schedule
o alcohol
o Fatigue can be relieved with:
o marijuana (pot or grass)
o better diet
o amphetamines (uppers or speed)
o more sleep
o cocaine (commonly used recreational drug)
o fewer activities
o hallucinogens
o development of better problem-solving
o opiates – ex. Heroin and morphine
techniques to relieve tensions
SUICIDE
MENSTRUAL IRREGULARITIES
• the deliberate self-injury with the intent to end
o they are learning to adjust to their body cycles
one’s life
Menstrual Disorders: • Successful suicide occurs more frequently in
males than in females
o Mittelschmerz o Reasons
- abdominal pain during ovulation  Incest
o Dysmenorrhea  chemical dependency
- painful menstruation  marital instability in the family
o Menorrhagia  poor problem-solving ability
- abnormally heavy flow
o Metrorrhagia RUNAWAY
- bleeding between menstrual period • Common in ages 10-17
o Endometriosis • has been absent from home at least overnight
- abnormal growth of extra urine endometrial without permission of parent or guardian
cells • most likely from low or high income families
o Amenorrhea
- absence of menstrual flow Characteristics of family

ACNE (Propionibacterium Acnes) • Unemployment

• Alcoholism
 a self-limiting inflammatory disease that involves • sexual abuse
the sebaceous gland • poverty
 occur in girls (14-17 years)
 occur in boys (6-19years)

The most common locations of acne lesions are:

o Face
o Neck
o Back
o upper arms
o chest

Acne is associated with:

o emotional stress
o menstrual periods
o use of creams and make-up