“My child’s stature decelerates .. compared to children with the same age” “His friend teases by calling him short often” If you do not want these situations to impact on your children, be prepared to know about the cause and determine whether your child has a risk or not as a good protection … before a perfect height of your child never happens.
The growth rate of children and age range.
1. Infant – 1 year; height increases about 25 cm. per year.
2. Age 1 to 2 years; height increases about 10 cm per year.
3. 2-4 years old; height increases about 6-8 cm per year.
Age> 4 – reaching to adolescence; height increases about 5-6 cm per year.
It’s time for your child to see a doctor.
– When a child stature increases less than 5 centimeters per year.
– When a child stature is less than a third of percentile rank from the children growth chart by age and sex.
– When a child is short but, both parents are tall.
What cause children short stature
1. Parents
The height of the parents is not the only one factor that can cause a short stature. However, there is a
formula of height calculation in children. Which has a 70 percent of a chance in accordance with the formula …
A child’s height (Boy) = Father’s height + Mother’s height +13
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Height of father (Girl) = Father’s height + Mother’s height -13
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However, although genetic is one of the causes. But if a child receives a good nutrition, do exercise regularly, and get enough sleep. These can increase about 7 centimeters height according to a genetic height average.
2. Constitutional delayed growth and puberty or CDGP
This case is rather found in boys. After a childbirth, a stature is normal before reaching the age of 2 with height deceleration. Afterward, a height will start reaching to normal rate or increasing at 5 centimeters per year. However, to reach the height of inheritance is when the child enters an adolescence age.
3. Children with chronic diseases
On account of many diseases that a child has, they do not only affect on stature … but also weight. Which is caused to be underweight. Accordingly, the physical examination must be required, in order to
provide a specific treatment for each disease.
4. Hormone deficiency :
Thyroid hormones: which not only affect the height but also brain development. However, if it occurs since being born, or in case if a child receives a delayed treatment. Both factors can cause a risk of “Cretinism” to children.
Growth hormone: despite since a child is born a height or stature remains normal … but, growth deceleration after birth can cause bone age younger than the actual age more than 2 years.
Gonadal steroid hormones during adolescence: in young girls they still have no breast and boys still have no mustache, cracked voice, and pubes. Causing a stature lower than it should be. The elevation does not soar as it should be
5. Chromosome abnormality such as Turner syndrome which is only found in girls.
6. Achondroplasia and Rickets
When finding the abnormalities or suspicion with your child stature. Parents should bring their children to see a pediatrician, together with some personal data such as weight or height since childbirth to the present to support a detection, diagnosis, and treatment.
Phyathai2 Hospital
