Consult a Physician Immediately If Your Child isn't Growing Tall Enough

Happy Children Grow Up Healthy!

Whether children's growth paths are healthy or not is one of the issues that parents are most curious about. Yeditepe University Kozyatağı Hospital Pediatric Endocrinology Specialist stated that the first age and adolescence are the periods when growth is the fastest and increases. Especially for children who are short in height, do not think they grow in adolescence anyway!' Our expert pointed out that it is necessary not to waste time and to consult a physician in case of doubt about growth.

Physical growth is shown as a process that starts in the womb and continues until the period when the growth plates in the bones are closed. For normal growth, it is necessary to be healthy and happy, eat right, and have a normal hormone balance. Insufficient growth is seen if there is a problem with any of these factors.

Yeditepe University Kozyatağı Hospital Pediatric Endocrinology Specialist remarked that problems such as nutritional deficiencies, chronic diseases, growth hormone, and thyroid hormone deficiencies also cause growth deficiency in children.

The First Year is Significant

Stating that the first year of life is the fastest period of growth, our expert: “This period increases the length of the baby by 25 cm and its weight approximately triples. After the age of one, growth slows down, and after the age of two, it continues at a relatively steady”
Although each child's height is different from their peers, the Pediatric Endocrinologist: “The period of constant growth continues until the beginning of puberty. Boys and girls grow at almost the same rate until they reach the age of 10-12. Growth accelerates with adolescence. This happens to girls before boys. The first signs of puberty begin to appear at an average age of 10 years in girls and 11 years in boys. However, it should not be forgotten that these symptoms may be different in each child. Adolescence can start early or late and is often similar to the characteristics of a mother or father.”

Checks Must be Done Before Puberty Ends

Many factors, such as hormones, genetic and environmental factors, can affect growth. Families can intervene in modifiable environmental factors by paying attention to children's regular and adequate sleep, balanced nutrition, and regular jumping exercises, and can have a positive effect on their children's growth process. Pediatric Endocrinologist: "Since the growth plates in the bone are closed when adolescence is over, unfortunately, we cannot intervene in the height increase even if there is a problem to be treated in such a situation".

Chronic Diseases Can Affect Growth

Explaining that chronic diseases, which have also increased in children in recent years, can negatively affect the growth process, the Pediatric Endocrinologist gave the following information:

“The lack or excess of hormones such as growth hormone, cortisol, puberty hormones (estrogen and testosterone), and thyroid hormones directly affect growth. However, if different chronic diseases such as diabetes and kidney failure cannot be controlled in children, growth problems may be encountered in the child. "

How to Diagnose Growth Retardation?

Whether there is growth retardation is decided by looking at the growth curves. Stating that the diagnosis of growth retardation was made in the case of deviation in the curve or having a height below the lowest 3rd percentile, the Pediatric Endocrinologist: "The treatment approach varies according to the underlying cause. Because growth retardation can be observed as the first symptom not only in hormonal problems but also in diseases related to many organs such as the kidney, liver, and heart. Hence, it is significant to examine children with growth retardation in detail.”

Genetic Height Shortness Is Not Growth Retardation

Pediatric Endocrinologist: "In order to tell this diagnosis, it is necessary to first make sure that the short stature is not due to an underlying cause, that is, we can say genetic after all examinations are done."

Reminding that each child has an estimated height target range based on the height of their parents, the Pediatric Endocrinologist also continued: “About 70-75 percent of children catch this range. However, some children may be taller or shorter than expected without an underlying problem. At this point, genetic infrastructure is important. Although children may be attracted to a tall or short person among their relatives, in these cases, there may be a problem underneath. For this reason, it is important that children who are outside their normal curve must consult a pediatric endocrinologist.”

Recommendations for Parents...

On what parents who want to ensure their children grow up normally should pay attention, the Pediatric Endocrinologist stated: “Children should be kept away from severe traumatic stress. Secondly, earlier time and sufficient sleep are very important. Additionally, attention should be paid to regular and balanced nutrition, especially milk and dairy products. The only thing scientifically proven to make you taller is regular exercise. The more regular and frequent jumping exercises such as volleyball and basketball, and gymnastic exercises that stretch the body, the more layers of paint there are.”