September 20th is celebrated worldwide as International Children’s Growth Awareness Day. Any deviation from normal standards of growth and development in children is considered a rare endocrine disorder that occurs in 1 in 4,000 to 10,000 children. According to official data, 133 children with growth disorders are treated in our country (number reported by the University Clinic for Children’s Diseases, 2022), while according to analyzes and world statistics, it is assumed that, including those not reported at the Pediatrics Clinic and the undiagnosed children, the number exceeds 200. Pediatricians and endocrinologists warn that short stature is not only an aesthetic issue, but it can be an indicator for several serious diseases, and result in serious health problems such as heart anomalies, chronic kidney diseases, low bone density, compromised immunity , as well as various psychological disorders.
What is the cause of impaired growth in children and how is this condition characterized?
The reasons for impaired growth and growth problems in children can be different – genetic predispositions, hormonal disorders, systemic diseases, poor nutrition, etc. It is characterized by a lack of the growth hormone that is secreted in the anterior pituitary in children from the youngest age, and the treatment is determined depending on the cause of the impaired growth. If the treatment is started on time, the children will have a normal development and a normal life in the future.
How is it manifested and at what age can the first symptoms be noticed?
The first and basic manifestation of impaired growth in children is the delay in growth compared to other children. This is best observed in kindergarten, when the child is part of a larger group of children of the same age. Measurement is mandatory. If the height of the child belongs to the group of 10% of children shorter than others, parents should vigilantly monitor and measure the growth of the child in the next 6 and 12 months. If it is determined that the child grows less than 4 cm in one year, then he/she must be examined by a specialist. The same applies in cases when the child with his height belongs to the 3% lowest children for his age.
For successful treatment of this disorder, doctors agree that early recognition by parents is key. How can parents recognize a possible growth disorder in a child?
during one year or wears the same number of shoes and clothes, the parents should react immediately and take the child to a specialist pediatrician, who will do the necessary examinations to confirm or exclude the diagnosis of impaired growth. In case the diagnosis is confirmed, treatment is started immediately, which consists of regular and continuous receiving of growth hormone. The key to successful treatment of growth disorders in children is to start with therapy as early as possible. A fortunate circumstance in the treatment of impaired growth is when the diagnosis is confirmed at preschool age, so that treatment can be started immediately. Globally, there is one unfortunate moment in the overall experience and treatment for this disorder, and that is that parents react only when the children are in the higher grades, 4th, 5th and even 6th grade, which is considered too late for the treatment to be completely successful. Therefore, regular weighing of children at home is crucial!
If a parent suspects that their child is showing signs of impaired growth, where should they turn?
The child’s family doctor should be contacted immediately, who will issue a referral for a specialist examination by an endocrinologist at the Pediatric Clinic.
