Medical Author: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP
Medically Reviewed on 11/8/2021
Doctor's Notes on Short Stature in Children
Short stature describes height significantly below the average height for a child’s age, sex, racial group, or family. It is not the same as growth failure, which is a medical condition that may result in short stature. Short stature may or may not be caused by a medical condition; it is often a normal variant. Short parents often have short children and there are no health problems present.
Symptoms that may indicate a medical condition is causing short stature in children include
- the child stops growing or is growing slower than expected (less than 4 cm, or 2 in, each year in the pre-pubertal child of elementary school age);
- weight loss or gain (more than 5 pounds in a month), poor nutrition/loss of appetite, or
- delayed puberty (no breast development by age 14 or absent menstrual spotting by age 15 for a girl or absent enlargement of the testes by age 14 for a boy).
What Is the Treatment for Short Stature in Children?
The treatment for short stature in children depends on the cause. Treatment of the underlying cause can improve the child’s stature but may not completely fix the growth failure completely.
The most common causes and treatments for short stature in children include:
- Malnutrition
- Improve nutrition
- Improve access to nutritious foods
- Nutritional counseling
- Improve appetite with appetite stimulants
- Genetic syndromes
- May need orthopedic surgical procedures
- Treated with hormones
- Growth hormone
- Testosterone
- Late bloomer children
- Hormones given to induce puberty and “growth spurt”
- Testosterone
- Hormones given to induce puberty and “growth spurt”
Must Read Articles:
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Growth Failure in Children
Growth failure in children may be caused by a number of factors, whether genetic or hormonal. Growth delay that results in short stature is seldom a result of a medical condition that requires treatment, however, hormone replacement therapy is indicated when the child has hypothyroidism or growth hormone deficiency. -
Growth Hormone Deficiency
Growth hormone (GH) deficiency is a disorder that involves the pituitary gland, which produces growth hormone and other hormones. People affected by growth hormone deficiency may have short stature and a variety of health problems. Treatments include hormone replacement therapy and other measures, depending on the root cause of the deficiency. -
Growth Hormone Deficiency FAQs
When the pituitary gland at the base of the brain fails to produce enough human growth hormone, it causes all sorts of symptoms in children with the deficiency. They include: Short height for child's age, Increased fat around the waist and in the face, Feeling upset about his or her height, The child may look younger than other children his or her age, Delayed onset of puberty, and Delayed tooth development. Treatments include hormone replacement therapy. -
Growth Hormone Deficiency in Children
Growth hormone deficiency is a disorder of the pituitary gland in the brain which produces growth hormone. A lack of growth hormone in children causes abnormally slow growth; and the deficiency may be caused by a birth defect or any number of acquired conditions like brain cancer or infection. Depending on the cause of the deficiency, children may have to receive growth hormone injections or other therapy as the underlying condition warrants. -
Growth Hormone Deficiency Medications
Growth hormone deficiency is a condition in which the pituitary gland or hypothalamus fails to produce enough of the hormones that stimulate growth. Whether acquired or congenital, children with growth hormone deficiency may experience: low blood sugar, heart disease, increased body fat and weakened bones. These problems can be treated by replacing the hormones. -
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. Causes of hypothyroidism include: Hashimotot's thyroiditis, subacute thyroiditis, previous thyroid therapy, drug-induced, Pituitary or hypothalamic disease, and iron deficiency. Some common symptoms of hypothyroidism are: fatigue, constipation, weight gain, poor appetite, dry and rough skin, coarse hair, hair loss, edema, depression, and elevated cholesterol levels. Treatment of hypothyroidism is generally with medication. -
Physical Growth in Newborns
The newborn period is the first 28 days of life. In the first few days of life, babies may lose 5%-7% of their body weight. By their second week of life, babies typically regain this weight. At birth, newborns may have a cone-shaped head, which usually resolves within a few days. Parents who are taller typically have longer babies.
REFERENCE:
Kasper, D.L., et al., eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 19th Ed. United States: McGraw-Hill Education, 2015.