Short stature is the child's short height compared to his age and gender. When 100 children of the same age and gender are taken, the shortest 3 children are defined as short stature. However, the shortest one does not mean that these 3 children will have a serious illness. A recently published study found that only 20% of these short children had a medical problem.
The height and body weight of every healthy child, from newborn to adolescence, should be measured during a doctor's examination. Children should grow in accordance with their age and gender. Because growth in children is an indicator of being healthy.
Babies reach their genetically determined height only around the age of 2. Birth characteristics and nutritional status play an important role in growth until the age of 2. On average, babies grow 25 cm in the first year of life, 10 cm between the ages of 1-2, and 7 cm between the ages of 2-3. After the age of 2-3, the average annual height increase is 5-6 cm, and they grow in accordance with the genetic structure they inherited from their parents. During adolescence, girls complete their growth by growing an average of 20-25 cm and boys 25-30 cm.
The most important clue is that children do not grow in height appropriate to their age. For this reason, children must be monitored for height growth. Every child who does not grow in height in accordance with his age must be investigated.
Another important point is that, no matter what, every child who is in his/her class compared to his/her peers should at least be checked by specialist physicians to ensure that they are not late and that there is no problem.
Children with malnutrition, developmental problems, intestinal problems such as diarrhea and constipation, respiratory problems, psychological problems and skeletal developmental disorders should also be checked at the earliest.
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