What Should I Do If My Child Is Short?

If your child seems to be falling behind in height or looks the shortest in the class, it could be more than just a late growth spurt. Short stature occurs when your child’s height is among the shortest 3% of children of the same age. Despite not being a disease, short stature can lead to low self-esteem and difficulties in daily life. Bring your child for proper treatment within the golden period, i.e. before the age of ten, to give them the height they deserve.

Can I calculate my child’s height?

If parents are short, their children tend to be short as well. A simple formula can be used to estimate the future height of your children and evaluate whether their short stature is related to their family history.

Male expected height: Add 13 cm to the sum of parents’ height (in cm) and then divide it by 2

Female expected height: Subtract 13 cm from the sum of parents’ height (in cm) and then divide it by 2

Parents can use their height to estimate their children’s future height. If the predicted height falls at the 50th percentile, but the current height falls at the 3rd percentile, this means your child’s growth is far from expectation. This condition may not be related to heredity and requires further examination.

Causes of short stature

Genetics: If both parents are short, their children tend to be short due to heredity.

Malnutrition: Insufficient nutrients for body growth can lead to short stature.

Constitutional growth delay: It is also known as constitutional delay of growth and puberty, usually occurring in children aged 6 months to 2 years. This condition makes them shorter than their peers, but the growth rate returns to normal after this period.

Chronic diseases in vital organs: e.g., heart or lungs.

Hormones: Hormonal imbalance in the child’s body.

How is short stature treated?

Doctors will first assess and analyse the causes of short stature and provide targeted treatment. If the child is diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency, Turner syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome or unexplained short stature, growth hormone therapy may be considered.

Primecare Paediatric Wellness Centre provides various paediatric endocrinology treatments for conditions such as short stature (with growth hormone therapy), thyroid disorders, early or late puberty, etc. The doctors will evaluate the relationship between the growth level, speed and other indicators for children of different ages through professional methods to understand their growth and development. This helps diagnose growth disorders, assess the children’s nutritional status, and provide consultation and treatment.

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