1. What is Chronological and Adjusted Age?

Chronological age is the actual time elapsed since birth. Adjusted age accounts for prematurity by subtracting the number of weeks the child was born early from the chronological age. This is particularly important for assessing development in preterm infants.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses these formulas:

Where:

• Current Date — The date of assessment
• Birth Date — The child's date of birth
• Prematurity Weeks — Number of weeks born before 40 weeks gestation

Explanation: The calculator first determines the exact time between birth and current date, then adjusts this by subtracting the period of prematurity.

3. Importance of Age Adjustment

Details: Adjusted age is crucial for evaluating growth and development in preterm infants, as it provides a more accurate comparison to full-term infants of the same post-conceptual age.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the current date, birth date, and number of weeks premature (gestational age at birth subtracted from 40 weeks). All values must be valid dates with birth date before current date.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Until what age should adjusted age be used?
A: Most experts recommend using adjusted age until 2-3 years for preterm infants, though this may vary based on degree of prematurity.

Q2: How does prematurity affect developmental milestones?
A: Preterm infants typically reach milestones closer to their adjusted age rather than chronological age, especially in the first two years.

Q3: Should growth charts use adjusted age?
A: Yes, growth parameters should be plotted according to adjusted age for preterm infants until at least 24 months corrected age.

Q4: What's considered a premature birth?
A: Any birth occurring before 37 weeks gestation is considered premature.

Q5: How accurate is this calculation?
A: The calculation is mathematically precise, but clinical application may require professional judgment in special circumstances.