Idiopathic short stature, short stature without growth hormone deficiency: What's it, causes, symptoms, diagnostics, treatment, prevention

Short stature; Idiopathic short stature; Non-growth hormone deficient short stature

Short stature without growth hormone deficiency: What's it?

Short people without growth hormone deficiency include people, whose height is significantly below the average height for their age and sex, but who do not have growth hormone deficiency. This condition is also known as idiopathic short stature or constitutional stunting..

The average height of children depends on age and sex. Children with short stature without growth hormone deficiency, usually, shorter, than their peers, but still growing and developing normally.

Causes of short stature without growth hormone deficiency

There are many reasons, why is your child short.

In most cases, there is no medical reason for short stature..

• Your child may be short for his age, but it's developing well.. He or she has puberty, probably, will start later, than peers. Your child, probably, will continue to grow after, how most of his peers will stop growing, and, probably, will be as high, like his parents. Providers call it "constitutional stunting".
• If one or both parents are short, child, probably, will also be low.. Later the child should be the same height, as one of the parents.

Sometimes short stature can be a symptom of a disease..

Diseases of the bones or skeleton, such as:

• Rickets
• Axondroplazija

Long-term (chronic) disease, such as:

• Asthma
• Celiac disease
• Congenital heart disease
• Cushing's disease
• Diabetes
• Gipotireoz
• inflammatory bowel disease
• Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
• Kidney disease
• Serpovidnokletochnaya anemia
• Thalassemia

Genetic disorders, such as:

• Down's syndrome
• Noonan syndrome
• Russell-Silver Syndrome
• Syndrome Ternera
• Williams syndrome

Other causes include:

• growth hormone deficiency
• Infections in a developing baby before birth
• malnutrition
• Poor growth of the baby in the womb (intrauterine growth retardation) or small for gestational age

This list does not include all possible causes of short stature..

Symptoms of short stature without growth hormone deficiency

The main sign of short stature without growth hormone deficiency is height, which is well below the average for age and gender. However, often other symptoms, related disease, no.

When to see a doctor

If you are concerned about, that your child may be short, you should contact your child's pediatrician. The pediatrician can evaluate your child's growth and decide, whether additional tests or referral to a specialist are needed.

You should also contact your child's pediatrician, if your child has any symptoms, that bother you.

Questions, that your doctor may ask

Your doctor, probably, ask you questions about your child's medical history and growth pattern. Some questions, that your doctor may ask, include:

• What is your child's current height and weight?
• What is your child's growth history?
• Other family members are short?
• Has your child had any chronic illnesses?
• What is your child's diet?
• Does your child have other symptoms?

Diagnosis of short stature of a child

Diagnosis of short stature without growth hormone deficiency is usually based on the child's height and growth pattern.. The pediatrician may also perform blood tests or x-rays., to rule out other conditions, which may affect growth.

If your child is diagnosed with short stature, your doctor may refer you to an endocrinologist for further evaluation and treatment.

Treatment of short stature without growth hormone deficiency

Treatment for short stature without growth hormone deficiency depends on the underlying cause of the condition. In many cases no treatment is required, as children naturally increase in height as they get older.

If the child's short stature is associated with a disease, its treatment can improve growth. For Example, if the child has hypothyroidism, thyroid hormone replacement therapy may help improve his growth.

If your child has no or low levels of growth hormone , your doctor can discuss treatment with growth hormone injections.

Most children have normal growth hormone levels and do not need growth hormone injections.. If your child is a boy with short stature and delayed puberty, your doctor can discuss with you the use of testosterone injections to promote growth. But it is unlikely to increase the growth of an adult.

Home treatment for short stature without growth hormone deficiency

There are several things, what you can do at home, to support your child's growth and development:

• Check, that your child eats a healthy and balanced diet, rich in nutrients and vitamins.
• Encourage physical activity and exercise, that promote bone and muscle growth.
• Check, that your child is getting enough sleep, because sleep is important for growth and development.
• Minimize Stress, as chronic stress can affect growth and development.

Your child's short stature can affect their self-esteem.

• Ask your child about relationships with friends and classmates. Children tease each other about many things., including growth.
• Give your child emotional support.
• Help the family, friends and teachers to highlight your child's skills and strengths.

Prevention of short stature without growth hormone deficiency

There is no guaranteed way to prevent short stature in a child., since many cases are linked to genetic factors. However, there are a few things, which you can do, to support your child's growth and development:

• Check, that your child receives adequate and healthy nutrition from an early age.
• Encourage physical activity and exercise from an early age.
• Minimize family stress.
• Check, that your child is getting enough sleep.

Conclusion

Short stature without growth hormone deficiency is a condition, that people suffer, whose height is well below average for their age and gender, but who do not have growth hormone deficiency. The cause of this condition is often unknown, but may be related to genetic factors, slow bone age, chronic diseases, poor diet or endocrine disorders. Treatment depends on the underlying cause of the condition, but may include growth hormone therapy, treatment of underlying diseases or no treatment at all. You can support your child's growth and development, giving him enough food, physical activity, sleep and minimizing family stress.

Used sources and literature

Cooke D.W., DiVall SA, Radovick S. Normal and aberrant growth in children. In: Melmed S, Auchus RJ, Goldfine AB, Koenig RJ, Rosen CJ, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 25.

Cuttler L, Misra M, Koontz M. Somatic growth and maturation. In: Jameson JL, The Great LJ, the Circles DM, et al, eds. Endocrinology: Adult and Pediatric. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 22.

escobar or, Viswanathan P, Witchel SF. Pediatric endocrinology. In: Kids BJ, McIntire SC, Nowalk AJ, eds. Zitelli and Davis’ Atlas of Pediatric Physical Diagnosis. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 9.

Marcdante KJ, Kliegman RM. Short stature. In: Marcdante KJ, Kliegman RM, eds. Nelson Essentials of Pediatrics. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 173.