Slow Growth in Babies May Signal Dwarfism (Public Health Network)
A child's lack of height is a persistent concern for many parents, with numerous potential causes.In China, the prevalence of short stature among children is around 3%. So where exactly does the problem lie?
What Causes Slow Growth in Children?
Many parents, desperate to see their child grow taller, resort to unproven remedies. They buy various height-boosting products and blindly supplement their child's diet. Not only does this fail to help with height, but it can also negatively impact the child's health.
1. Insufficient parental understanding
Parents often lack awareness of normal height ranges for children, relying solely on chronological age to judge growth. However, developmental progress must be assessed by bone age, not just calendar age. Some parents mistakenly believe adequate nutrition guarantees height gain. Upon noticing their child's short stature, they may simply assume delayed development, thereby missing the optimal window for intervention.
Experts emphasize that relying solely on chronological age to assess a child's development is highly unreliable. Age is merely a "clock," while bone age serves as the true benchmark for growth.Human height gain primarily depends on skeletal growth. Once the epiphyseal plates close, most individuals cease growing taller. Typically, epiphyseal closure occurs after bone age exceeds 14 years in girls and 16 years in boys. Therefore, the optimal window for treating short stature is before epiphyseal closure. Parents concerned about developmental delays should seek bone age testing at a hospital.
2. Delayed Treatment
Many parents, upon noticing their child's lack of height gain, assume nutritional deficiency and purchase various height-enhancing supplements, thereby missing the optimal treatment window. In reality, most such supplements on the market are merely marketing gimmicks with no proven efficacy. Furthermore, supplements containing illegal additives can cause premature puberty, which negatively impacts height potential.
Various conditions can cause short stature in children, such as growth hormone deficiency or being small for gestational age. The primary treatment involves growth hormone supplementation. However, some parents believe hormones are harmful to children, leading to delayed treatment for many children with short stature. The later treatment begins, the shorter the growth window becomes. Only early intervention can maximize the child's potential to reach normal height.Using growth hormone at prescribed doses promotes height growth without adverse health effects.
Reminder: Monitor Your Child's Growth Rate
Slow growth is a symptom of short stature. Parents should pay close attention to their child's growth rate, regularly measuring height to detect issues early for timely intervention.