Short stature (also known as dwarfism) refers to people whose height falls below the 3rd percentile. This means that 97% of people of the same sex and age are taller. Short stature is most noticeable during early childhood or puberty, when major growth spurts typically occur. Short stature is the result of a reduced growth rate or a shortened growth period.
Below you will find further information as well as a list of selected specialists in short stature.
Causes of Short Stature
The causes of short stature are varied. The most common cause is familial short stature. In this case, it is not a disease but a variant of the norm. Children of short parents will also be short themselves.
The second most common cause is what is known as constitutional growth delay (CGD), which occurs primarily in boys. This means that the rate of growth is reduced. The onset of puberty is delayed. Development is normal but delayed.
About three percent of all people fall outside the normal range for height (men up to 167 cm; women up to 153 cm) @ Yakobchuk Olena /AdobeStock
Other causes of short stature include:
- Reduced growth before birth due to illness or substance abuse during pregnancy
- Skeletal abnormalities caused by vitamin deficiency or genetic disorders
- Various metabolic disorders
Diagnosis of short stature
Medical history plays an important role in the diagnosis.
The following characteristics are key:
- Pregnancy history
- Birth
- Growth history
- Development
- Nutrition
The family medical history is also a key factor here. Based on the parents’ height, a prediction can be made regarding the child’s final height.
The physical examination includes:
- Height
- Head circumference
- Weight
- Growth curve
- Growth rate
In addition, the doctor may perform a bone age assessment. To do this, the doctor takes an X-ray of the left hand; for children under 1.5 years of age, the left knee is X-rayed.
A comprehensive blood test that measures thyroid and growth hormone levels can provide further clues regarding short stature.
Treating Short Stature
Treatment depends on the cause of short stature. If there is an isolated growth hormone deficiency, doctors administer synthetic growth hormone until the child reaches their final height.
However, this is only effective as long as the child has not yet stopped growing in height. For most causes, however, there is currently no treatment available.
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