Abstract
Linear and ponderal growth are important indicators of health in children. Assessment of growth trajectory, both in height and weight, should be an integral part of the routine evaluation of the child by the primary care provider.
Conceivable abnormalities of growth include, on one hand, either slow or rapid linear growth, and slow or rapid ponderal growth and, on the other hand, short stature, tall stature, underweight, and overweight/obesity.
Early identification of worrisome growth patterns can facilitate accurate diagnosis and timely referrals and interventions. Accuracy of measurements and interpretation of trajectories in the growth charts are essential and, in conjunction with a complete medical history and physical examination, should guide the initial assessment. Clinical information can be further enhanced with the request of basic first-line test screening for possible underlying organic conditions. This chapter describes definitions relevant to the assessment of growth in children, followed by key clinical data that can point toward differential diagnosis in growth abnormalities and initial steps of their investigation.
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Abbreviations
- ADD:
-
Attention deficit disorder
- ADHD:
-
Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder
- BMI:
-
Body mass index
- CBC:
-
Complete blood cell count
- CDGP:
-
Constitutional delay of growth and puberty
- CMP:
-
Complete metabolic panel
- CRP:
-
C-reactive protein
- ESR:
-
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
- Free T4:
-
Free thyroxine
- FSS:
-
Familial short stature
- GH:
-
Growth hormone
- GV:
-
Growth velocity
- HV:
-
Height velocity
- IgA:
-
Immunoglobulin A
- IGF-1:
-
Insulin-like growth factor 1
- IGFBP3:
-
Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3
- MPH:
-
Mid-parental height
- MRI:
-
Magnetic resonance imaging
- PAH:
-
Predicted adult height
- SS:
-
Short stature
- TH:
-
Target height
- TORCH:
-
Toxoplasma Gondii, other viruses, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, Herpes
- TSH:
-
Thyroid-stimulating hormone
- TTG-IgA:
-
Tissue trans glutaminase IgA
- XLH:
-
X-linked hypophosphatemia
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Escobar, O., Perez-Garcia, E.M. (2021). Decreased Growth Velocity and/or Short Stature. In: Stanley, T., Misra, M. (eds) Endocrine Conditions in Pediatrics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-52215-5_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-52215-5_1
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