Short stature

Definition

Short stature is refers to any person who is significantly below the average height - specifically, the shortest 5% - for a person of the same age and sex. The term may refer to children or adolescents who are significantly below the average height of their peers.

Considerations

Short stature is not necessarily a symptom or sign. Two relatively short but healthy parents may have an entirely healthy child who is in the shortest 5%.

On the other hand, short stature may be a symptom caused by a medical condition and, as many of these conditions are treatable, should be evaluated by a health care provider.

Common Causes

• Inherited and genetic factors
  
• Hypothyroidism that develops before birth
  
• Delayed puberty (causes temporary short stature, but normal height is eventually achieved)
  
• Precocious puberty
  
• Malnourishment
  
• Chronic diseases, such as congenital heart disease, Kidney diseases, Asthma, sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and Diabetes
  
• Malabsorption disorders such as Celiac disease
  
• Inflammatory bowel disease
  
• AIDS
  
• Achondroplasia
  
• Russell-Silver syndrome
  
• Hypopituitarism (pituitary dwarfism)
  
• Craniopharyngioma
  
• Rickets
  
• Turner's syndrome
  

Home Care
No particular care is indicated for short stature. If short stature is associated with a treatable medical condition, then the appropriate prescribed care should be undertaken.

Call your health care provider if

If your child appears to be significantly shorter than the majority of children his or her age (or if the rate of growth has decreased or stopped), call your health care provider.

What to expect at your health care provider's office