Growth Disorders - Symptoms, Risk factors and Treatment

Have you ever felt that your child is tall or short concerning their age? Mostly it is normal, some children may be tall, because their parents are tall and some may be short because their parents are short. However, too fast or too slow growth can be bothersome, indicating any kind of growth disorders. 

Growth disorder is a condition that does not let your child grow physically, mentally, or sexually according to their age. Mostly it occurs due to any glandular issue. However, there can be other causes too.

The pituitary gland produces a growth hormone that lets your child grow. When there is too little growth hormone secretion, it can lead to slow growth in children. It can be corrected by administering synthetic growth hormones or their analogs to the children. Whereas being too tall can be because of too much secretion of growth hormone, that can be due to pituitary tumors. To correct growth disorders, you should visit the healthcare provider soon and at the right time. If your child does not get the treatment for growth disorder at the right age- the growing age, after that treatment may not be beneficial. Therefore it is essential to take them to the healthcare provider at the right age. 

What Causes Growth Disorders?

Growth disorders can occur due to reasons like;

Lack of glandular development- some children are born with underdeveloped pituitary or hypothalamus gland that regulates the production of growth hormone. It can lead to slow growth in them. 

Glandular trauma- some children develop glandular issues after getting a serious injury to the head, an infection, or a brain tumor. The child may be normal at the time of birth. But after getting trauma, their glands may stop working. 

What are the signs of Growth Disorders?

Children with growth disorders are completely normal. The only feature for it is short stature, which can also be treated through growth hormones. Children with growth disorders may be short as compared to other children of their age. Other signs of growth disorder are;

• Growth of the child below the third percentile
• Parents are tall, but the child is short
• Growth of child has slowed down

What are the Risk Factors for Growth Disorders?

The most common risk factors for growth disorders can be;

Poor nutrition

When your child does not get enough vitamin D, calcium, and protein in the diet, it can result in slow growth. Consuming a balanced diet is essential, especially in the growing age. 

Emotional stress

Emotional or mental stress can slow down the growth of your child. If stress is too much for the child to bear, it can even lead to stunt growth. 

Disease

Any disease like a tumor or any other health condition can lead to slow growth. 

Diagnosis 

Firstly the healthcare provider will check the height, weight, muscle mass, and nutritional status of your child. They may also order to check the concentration of growth hormone in your body. 

Treatment 

If your child’s growth is slow due to too little production of growth hormone in their body, they may administer growth hormone. 

Conclusion 

Every child has a different pattern of growth. It is not good to keep comparing your child’s health with other children. But if it bothers you and their growth is too little or too fast, you must consult with a healthcare provider.