What is hereditary dwarfism Some children have normal growth changes, are well-proportioned, show significant growth spurts, have well-developed sexual organs and secondary features, and their only physical sign is short stature. These children are completely healthy and normal, and their short stature is caused by family genetic factors, since their parents have a significantly lower average height and most of their siblings are also short. They do not need any treatment and growth stimulation with growth hormone or androgens is completely ineffective because their own and their parents’ hormone levels are completely normal.
What is physiological delay in puberty? Some children are born with normal length and weight, but their growth rate is slow. By 13-14 years of age, when other children have begun to grow suddenly, they are still only the height of a normal 8-9 year old; their bone age is also delayed, and the degree of delay is consistent with the delay in height. These children are also generally 3-4 years late in pubertal development. Such growth delays are due to genetic factors, and various growth and sexual development delays are often present in the child’s parents or relatives. Any child with a physical delay in puberty develops at a slow pace but is well-proportioned, which can be distinguished from many children with other endocrine disorders. There is short-term treatment with androgens (testosterone, etc.), but it is best not to abuse them because they both promote sudden growth increases in height and accelerate epiphyseal healing at the same time, and often have a greater effect on the latter. Therefore, because the early healing of epiphysis limits the process of height growth, the final height will be reduced instead.