Parents keep seeing each other only to ask how much weight you have - The reason why you are not tall

The article is professionally consulted with Master, Doctor Nguyen Minh Tuan - Pediatrician - Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Da Nang International Hospital

Any parent wants their child to be tall, healthy and comprehensively developed. However, in some cases, children do not grow in height or children are always shorter than their peers.

Identify a child with normal height through the following parameters:
Normally, a newborn baby has a height of 48 - 52 cm, the average is 50 cm. In the first year, the baby grows about 20 - 25 cm. 2nd year increase 12 cm. The third year is 10 cm taller. Next year increase 7 cm. From 4 to 11 years old, children gain an average of 6cm per year. By puberty, girls grow about 6 - 10cm per year and boys increase by 6.5 - 11cm per year.

Currently, many parents, when they see signs of delayed growth in height, often think that it is due to nutrition and genetics. In fact, slow growth in height is not only related to nutritional factors but also due to many other causes. Studies show that some common causes of slow growth in height include:
2.1. Growth hormone deficiency The child's body does not produce enough growth hormone, resulting in hormone deficiency. This condition can occur at any point in life, from congenital causes or damage to the pituitary gland, from head trauma, from brain tumors, or from infections such as meningitis and encephalitis. .. Some cases of growth hormone deficiency have no known cause. The prevalence of growth hormone deficiency is estimated to be about 1 in 4,000 to 1 in 10,000 babies.
Growth hormone is an important factor for the comprehensive development of children and determines the height. Growth retardation due to lack of growth hormone, children need to be detected early and treated promptly before puberty can bring optimal effect. For hormone treatment to be effective, it needs to be conducted at the right time, at the right dose, preferably between the ages of 4-13 years old. If after this time, the cartilage of the child's bones closes, the use of growth hormone is no longer effective.

2.2. Hypothyroidism One of the causes of slow growth in height and mental retardation in children is a lack of thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism). Thyroid hormone has a direct effect on growth and metabolism in the body. The body does not secrete enough of this hormone can cause stunted growth and mental retardation.
2.3. Genetics Parents with short height often have short children and vice versa. According to genetic factors, the height of an adult child is calculated by the formula:
Daughter height = (father's height - 13cm + mother's height)/2. Son height = (mother's height + 13cm + father's height)/2. 2.4. Malnourished fetuses Malnourished fetuses are often born with low birth weight and slower physical growth than their peers. This condition is also known as fetal undernutrition.
2.5. Turner syndrome Turner syndrome occurs in girls due to partial or complete loss of an X chromosome. Children often have delayed growth and need growth hormone therapy. Dosage and duration of growth hormone therapy are determined by the pediatrician.
2.6. Down syndrome Down syndrome often leads to growth retardation in children.
2.7. Anemia Some anemia conditions, such as sickle cell anemia, also cause growth retardation in children.
2.8. Chronic diseases Children with certain chronic kidney, heart, digestive system or lung diseases will often affect their physical development.
2.9. Use of drugs during pregnancy Children with growth retardation, stunted children can be the consequences of indiscriminate use of drugs when the mother is pregnant.

2.10. Poor nutrition Nutrition plays a very important role in the growth of children. Children with chronic malnutrition will greatly affect the growth of height.

The doctor will examine and give the patient a number of specialized tests and tests to confirm the diagnosis such as blood tests, bone age scans, brain imaging to see if the patient has a tumor or abnormality (pituitary tumor). ) or not,... to determine the exact cause of growth retardation in children in order to give appropriate treatment.
If the doctor determines that the child has a growth hormone deficiency and needs treatment, the doctor will prescribe a growth hormone supplement with an appropriate dose. Children with growth hormone deficiency need to be treated early (right from the time when children start to slow down in height growth) to see the effect, children will develop almost like other normal children.
Currently, at Vinmec International General Hospital, there is a team of Endocrinologists - Pediatricians with many years of experience in examination and treatment who will give the best advice and treatment regimen, ensuring health. comprehensive for baby.

Note: This article is part of the Vinmec International General Hospital System's Awareness Program on Growth Retardation, with the support of Novo Nordisk