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Introduction

Accurate growth assessment and timely
treatment are important for short stature.

For inquires: Pediatrics Department 031-782-8372(KOR) / +82-10-8866-2268(ENG)

Accurate growth assessment and timely treatment are important for short stature.

For inquires: Pediatrics Department
031-782-8372(KOR) / +82-10-8866-2268(ENG)
What is Short Stature?
Short stature is a general term used to describe a condition in which a child or a teen's height is well below the average height of his or her peers. Short stature typically means that a person's height is below that of the shortest 3% of children of the same age and sex, with a 10cm height difference. Furthermore, the speed of height is important. If a child ages 3 to 10 grows less than 4cm per year, growth disorder is anticipated even if the height is normal.
What is Normal Growth?
The child grows the most in the first year of birth, 20 to 30cm in length, and then in the second year, the child grows about 12cm in length, and 5 to 6cm in length every year from the second year to puberty. When puberty begins, growth is accelerated again, growing 7 to 12cm a year, and then gradually closing the growth plate, eventually ending growth.
When should the child go to the Growth Clinic?
1. 10cm smaller than child’s peers
2. Has not grown even 4cm in the past year
3. Wearing the same size pants for more than 2 years
4. Shorter, but puberty is faster than child’s peers
What is the treatment for growth disorder?
1. If the child has a growth hormone deficiency, the child can receive growth hormone treatment with Korea National Health Insurance.
2. In addition, the child can receive growth hormone treatment with Korean National Health Insurance for Turner syndrome, kidney failure, and Prader–Willi syndrome.
3. Receiving steady growth hormone treatment, the child will be able to reach normal adult height.
4. Growth hormone treatment is effective only when the growth plate is still open.
Causes for Short Stature

1. Genetics
This is the most common cause of short stature. If one or both parents are short, there’s a strong possibility that their child will also be short.

2. Constitutional growth delay
Some children simply develop later than others. These kids are small for their age and often enter puberty later. However, they’ll continue to grow after their friends have stopped. They usually catch up by adulthood.

3. Turner syndrome
Short stature is the single most common physical abnormality in Turner Syndrome, and children achieve an adult stature to a final height of 140cm and therefore, it is crucial to start growth hormone treatment as early as possible.

4. Intrauterine growth delay
If the weight at birth was less than 2.5kg, growth after birth may also be affected. If the child has not caught up by the age 2, it's likely that the child will continue to be small.

5. Endocrine diseases
Growth hormone deficiency is typical, and weight is relatively high compared to height. In addition, growth disorders appear when there is an abnormality in the thyroid or adrenal cortical hormone.

6. Precocious puberty
If puberty appears too soon, the growth rate initially seems to be faster and higher, but the growth plate closes quickly and growth ends early, so the final adult height is small.

7. Other
Furthermore, growth disorders can also be caused by lack of nutrition, chronic lung disease, kidney failure, asthma, severe anemia, inflammatory bowel disease, and congenital heart disease.

Lifestyle habits to help children grow
    • Consistent moderate exercise
    • Eat three balanced meals a day
    • Get enough sleep
    • Reduce stress and have a happy mindset.
    • Correct posture
    • Participate often in outdoor activities