What height should be considered normal for each age group so that children will not become “dwarfs” in the future? “Nowadays, children’s height development is not ideal, and the incidence of dwarfism is increasing year by year, about 3 out of 100 children in the country on average are affected by dwarfism.” Based on the population base and incidence rate in Shaoyang City, it is projected that at least 29,000 children are stunted, and if not treated in time in the future, both girls and boys will not reach the height standard.
A survey in Shanghai also found that more than 80% of parents lacked the necessary awareness of the dangers associated with childhood short stature. Many parents are not aware that their children’s slow growth is also a disease, and they either leave their children’s height to time, or spend a lot of money to supplement their children’s nutrition and use height-enhancing devices, while these blind measures often delay treatment and even backfire.
It was also found in the survey that only about 30% of the many children with dwarfism were treated in time, and the majority of them only went to the hospital for examination after puberty when their height was one head below normal children. At the same time, due to traditional medical conditions, many parents do not know which department to see for their child’s dwarfism even after entering the hospital. And the lack of timely and correct treatment delays the great time of growth and development. As a result, children with this disease in China generally receive treatment late, with 70% of children starting treatment at the age of 11 to 15, while in developed countries such as the United States, treatment begins at the age of 5 to 10.
How to detect dwarfism in advance Children’s height condition is rather hidden when they are growing up, and once you find out that your child is a head shorter than others, it is very late. Therefore, parents should keep an eye on their child’s height and master the following ways to monitor their child’s height development
Standard data method: According to the height regulations for each age group in medical textbooks, measure your child’s height, pay attention to the growth rate, then compare it with the standard data to see if it is within the normal range, and monitor whether your child’s height growth is normal in each age group.
Peer comparison method: Comparing with children of the same age and gender, if the child is significantly shorter than other children during a period of time, it indicates an abnormal developmental condition. This approach is especially important for parents who have fewer children. For example, if you have not seen your child for a period of time and then suddenly see your child and find no change in height, you should immediately pay attention to your child’s development. Or a child who has been within the bottom 3 in height ranking in the class.
Bone age test method: Bone age is the basis for accurately judging the development of a child’s height. In a normal child, the development of bone age and age are synchronized. However, in children with dwarfism, bone age develops earlier or later than age. Therefore, a bone age test is the safest and most reliable way to monitor your child.
The first stage is the rapid growth period from fetus to 2 years old, usually about 25 cm in the first year after birth and 10 cm in the second year; the second stage is the slow growth period from 3 years old to pre-pubertal period, with 5-7 cm growth per year; the third stage is the accelerated growth period during puberty, with 25-28 cm growth for boys and 23-25 cm growth for girls. -25 cm. However, the whole process is regulated by a variety of factors, and the individual’s final height is influenced by genetics, birth height, nutrition, hormones, environment, psychological factors diseases, etc. Among the many factors, growth hormone plays a decisive role in the whole growth process.
Most children with dwarfism can be treated in time at the age of 4 years old in a pediatric dwarf specialist at a regular hospital, and they are expected to reach normal height. If treatment is missed (e.g. epiphyseal closure), these children will live with dwarfism for the rest of their lives.