Often
parents and even children worry when they are not as tall as their peers.
Though many diseases impair child's growth, most short children are normal. Delayed
puberty and disproportionate short stature can be a sign of a chromosomal
disorder. short and overweight can indicate an endocrine or hormonal problem
Most
children are short because they have short parents. In other words, parents
genes play a major role in child's growth.Children's
growth is often divided into 3 phases - infancy stage, childhood stage and
puberty stage.
Growth
in infancy stage is the most rapid growth and child grows about 25 cm during the first year of life. This growth is
predominantly influenced by the nutrition . Children in early childhood usually
grow at a rate of about 4- 8 cm per year, up until they begin puberty. Growth
in 2nd phase is influenced by Growth hormone, Thyroid hormone and nutrition. Then
there is an acceleration in growth as they hit their peak growth velocity in
puberty, to about 8-10 cm/year for girls and 10-12cm/year for boys. Growth then
slows again in girls to about 3-4 cm/year after menarche (the first period)
until they reach their adult height. Boys and girls usually continue to grow
until they are 14-16 years old, but this depends on when they started puberty.
Growth in the puberty phase is predominantly influenced by sex hormones.
Common
reasons for short stature:
Familial
short stature: Child's parents are
short. These children usually grow at a normal rate
Constitutional
delay of growth: These children grow at or below the 3rd percentile for their
height, but their growth velocity or rate of growth is normal. They will have a
delayed bone age, showing that there is still growth left. These children are
described as 'late bloomers'. They should reach a final adult height that is
near their target height.
Growth
hormone deficiency: Children with growth hormone deficiency are short, often
look younger than their chronological age. They are short, often look younger
than their chronological age, they will usually have a delay in their bone age,
will have a slow rate of growth and they will have a growth curve that falls
away from the normal growth curves.
