Height and weight have always been important indicators for measuring a child's healthy growth. To develop a healthy physique, in addition to balanced nutrition, adequate exercise and sufficient rest, a child's height is also influenced by their parents' genes and endocrine system.
Generally common causesChild short staturePossible causes include:
- Precocious puberty
- Growth hormone deficiency
- Born small for gestational age
- Turner syndrome
- Idiopathic short stature
To determine if a child has contractedDwarfismDoctors will refer to growth charts, which represent the median height for children of different ages. If a child's height is at or below the 3rd percentile on the growth chart, they are considered to have short stature, which can generally be divided into non-pathological or pathological. Non-pathological causes include genetic factors, slower individual maturation, developmental delay, and idiopathic short stature. Pathological causes include low birth weight.Malnutritionand long-term illnesses such as chronic kidney disease, as well as genetic or chromosomal abnormalities, and even endocrine disorders, such as hypothyroidism or growth hormone deficiency.
Generally, pre-pubertal children aged 4-10 years will grow 4-6 cm per year. If parents observe that their child is shorter than other children of the same age, or their growth rate is slower, they are advised to consult a paediatrician as soon as possible to identify any underlying causes.
Do "growth injection" treatments really exist?
The "growth injection" you've all been hearing about is actually an injection of "growth hormone." Growth hormone is secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. It is transported via the bloodstream to the liver and major organs of the body, particularly bone and muscle cells, stimulating growth. In addition to this, growth hormone also regulates carbohydrate and fat metabolism.
Growth hormone injections can be used medically to treat various causes of short stature. In addition to being used for growth hormone deficiency, they are currently also used for chronic kidney failure, syndromes such as Turner syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, SHOX gene deficiency; and idiopathic short stature and children who are born small for gestational age and are shorter than expected.
Before using medication, the doctor will thoroughly examine the child's family history, previous treatments, and allergies, identify the cause of dwarfism, and then decide whether medication is suitable and determine the dosage.
If parents have any concerns about their child's growth and development, they should consult a paediatrician for an assessment as early as possible.
