Reasons for short stature

There are many reasons for short stature, the most common of which are genetics and malnutrition during development. In fact, in addition to physiological factors, many pathological factors can also lead to short stature. Especially if parents do not want their children to have this kind of situation, they should find out the reasons for their short stature, take preventive measures, and discover the problems in time if there are any abnormalities.

What are the causes of short stature?

(1) Short stature secondary to systemic disease. Common diseases include chronic malnutrition, severe anemia, rickets, tuberculosis, recurrent respiratory tract infections, and chronic liver and kidney diseases. If malnutrition or excessive consumption caused by illness leads to slow growth and development, the primary disease should be actively treated.

What are the causes of short stature?

(2) Emotional deprivation short stature. Due to the stimulation of social and psychological factors such as family breakdown or disharmony, loss of maternal love, etc., the secretion of growth hormone-releasing factor by the hypothalamus is reduced, leading to dwarfism, accompanied by emotional and mental abnormalities, but no other abnormalities. After changing the environment, the child can quickly resume normal growth and development.

What are the causes of short stature?

(3) Hereditary short stature. It may be familial or racial, with most family members being short in stature, which is related to the short stature of the parents. The child's height is always low, but the growth rate is normal, and the intelligence, secondary sexual characteristics and sexual organs are well developed. No treatment is required, and growth hormone treatment is ineffective.

What are the causes of short stature?

(4) Constitutional delay of puberty. It accounts for about 30% of the short-stature population, is more common in boys, and is familial. The birth weight is normal, but the growth rate is slow, puberty is delayed by 2 to 4 years, height, bone age and sexual development are all delayed, and the growth hormone stimulation test is normal. Sexual development begins at around 16 to 18 years old, and growth is rapid at this time. After puberty, their height and sexual development reach normal levels, and their intelligence is normal. Such short children should not abuse growth hormone to avoid accelerating epiphyseal healing and restricting the growth process, which will reduce their final height.

What are the causes of short stature?

(5)Low birth weight. Due to reasons such as maternal malnutrition, illness, and placental insufficiency during pregnancy, the fetus may have intrauterine growth disorders and be born with weight and height lower than normal. If the child is simply low birth weight without congenital malformations, some children will develop into normal children after birth, but some children will always remain below the 3rd percentile, but develop at a normal growth rate and remain at a low normal level in adulthood. For such children, active health care measures should be taken from birth, such as strengthening nutrition, physical exercise, disease prevention, etc., so that they can catch up with their growth. The prognosis is good and no drug treatment is needed.

What are the causes of short stature?

(6) Pituitary dwarfism. Due to insufficient secretion of growth hormone from the anterior pituitary gland, the child has a symmetrical body shape, slow growth rate and delayed bone age. Treatment can be with growth hormone.

What are the causes of short stature?

(7)Chromosome diseases. Trisomy 21 syndrome, congenital ovarian dysgenesis, etc. all have slowed growth rate, short stature, mental retardation and special facial features, but normal body shape. Congenital ovarian hypoplasia can be treated with oral estrogen during puberty to stimulate breast and genital development. There is no specific treatment for trisomy 21.