“Controlling the growth and development of every child is fundamental for the prevention and detection of growth alterations. Children with short stature or significant decrease in growth rate should be referred to a specialist. The management of growth retardation will be successful if its cause is detected and treated in time”, says Dr. Karim Kundert, an endocrinologist at our clinic.

How do I know if my child is growing correctly?

The evaluation of the weight and height of the children is carried out using growth curves within the control of the healthy child. Both parameters make it possible to assess whether the growth pattern is within normal limits. In addition to assessing pubertal development, the child’s medical history will also be relevant, as it includes the heights of the parents.

What is the normal growth in centimeters from baby to puberty?

The speed of growth of a child varies in the different stages of his life:

• 1st year: 24 – 25 cm / year
• 2nd year: 12 – 13 cm / year
• 3rd year: 7 – 9 cm / year
• 4-10 years: 5 – 6 cm / year
• Before puberty: 3 – 4 cm / year
• Puberty: 7-12 cm / year. Puberty growth spurt: Peak of 8.8 cm/year in women and 9.5 cm/year in boys.

A child can be considered of short stature if:

If the height in relation to their age is below the third percentile or less than 2 standard deviations with respect to the mean height, according to the reference pattern (growth curves).

The causes for short stature can be:

Genetic syndromes, small for gestational age without compensatory growth, skeletal dysplasia or with mineralization defects, malnutrition, systemic diseases, abnormalities of the growth hormone axis, endocrinological and metabolic diseases, psychosocial problems, corticosteroid therapy, familial idiopathic short stature and non-familial, radio-chemotherapy.

Auxiliary tests to diagnose growth problems in children:

Depending on each case, a measurement of growth hormone and IGF-I, thyroid function tests, cortisol, karyotype, bone age, kidney function, among others, can be requested.

Remember:

• Only after a specialist’s evaluation, treatment with growth hormone (GH) shall be indicated or not, since it does not apply in all cases and, despite the fact that it is generally well tolerated and safe, there are possible adverse effects to consider.
• In all cases, it is recommended to follow a healthy lifestyle that includes adequate nutrition, exercise and adequate sleep habits for the minor.

Dr. Karim Kundert
Endocrinologist at Clínica Ricardo Palma