Understanding Growth Disorders in Children

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What are growth disorders?

Growth disorders are anomalies or irregularities during a child’s growth and development. This means that a child can either grow more slowly or faster when compared to other children of the same age. Weight and height are the main, more evident, characteristics of growth.

Do children have growth disorders?

But some children have growth disorders. Growth disorders are problems that prevent children from developing normal height, weight, sexual maturity or other features. Very slow or very fast growth can sometimes signal a gland problem or disease. The pituitary gland makes growth hormone, which stimulates the growth of bone and other tissues.

What causes growth deficiency?

Here we review the physiology of growth, the diagnosis of GH deficiency, treatment options and genetic growth hormone disorders. Growth failure may be due to genetic mutations, acquired disease and/or environmental deficiencies.

What causes growth problems?

Some growth problems are genetic, while others may be caused by hormonal disorders or poor absorption of food. Causes for growth problems usually fall into the following categories: Familial short stature. Familial short stature is a tendency to follow the family's inherited short stature (shortness).

Are growth disorders common in the UK?

Growth is a strong indicator of health and well-being in children, but delays in the diagnosis of growth disorders are common in the UK. We spoke to Helen L. Storr, Professor of Paediatric Endocrinology at Queen Mary University of London, about her research on growth disorders in children.

What Is Growth Disorders

1. https://medlineplus.gov/growthdisorders.html
2. https://www.webmd.com/children/what-to-know-about-growth-disorders
3. https://www.topdoctors.co.uk/medical-dictionary/growth-disorders
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279142/
5. https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/conditions-and-treatments/conditions-we-treat/growth-hormone-deficiency/
6. https://www.childrensnational.org/visit/conditions-and-treatments/diabetes-hormonal-disorders/growth-problems
7. https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/short-stature-child
8. https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=growth-problems-in-children-90-P01956
9. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/growth-disorders

Growth Disorders Information

1. https://www.bsped.org.uk/media/oo1hsxet/clinical-standards-for-growth-assessment-and-referral-criteria-for-children-with-a-suspected-growth-disorder.pdf
2. https://www.qmul.ac.uk/whri/news-and-events/2023/items/improving-the-diagnosis-and-treatment-of-growth-disorders-in-children.html