I. Choice of hospital
In general, children with dwarfism should choose a hospital with a separate pediatric endocrinology department in order to have a systematic endocrine examination for their children.
Choice of department
If there is no pediatric endocrinology department in the hospital, you can also go to the pediatric health department for consultation.
What parents of children with dwarfism need to know about their children before consultation
During the consultation, the following information should be explained to the attending doctor in detail.
1. The pregnancy status of the mother
2. When the child’s short stature was discovered
3. the child’s sex/age/height/weight.
4. the height/weight of the child at birth.
5. the change in height in the last year.
6.The child’s intelligence
7.Parents’ height
8.Current development of sexual characteristics
9.Family history of tumor, diabetes, genetic disease, etc.
10.Past medical consultations and related test results (bring the child’s case and past test results)
IV. What tests are needed for children with short stature
There are many causes of dwarfism, and in order to treat it, we must find out the cause and make a correct diagnosis, and then consider how to treat it. In order to find out the cause of the disease, we must first ask the medical history, physical examination, and laboratory test, and based on the detailed information and laboratory results, we will analyze and judge the cause of children’s dwarfism, and finally determine the treatment plan.
Parents are required to provide the following information when their children visit the hospital:
(1) The condition of the baby at birth, whether the birth was difficult, asphyxiated, and what kind of delivery method was used, height and weight at birth, etc.
(2) The rate of height growth per year; shoes should be removed for height measurement.
(3) Height and developmental age of family members, and whether there are genetic diseases.
(4) Intellectual development, presence of chronic hepatitis, kidney disease and asthma.
(5) Whether the child has used drugs that affect growth and development, such as prednisone (prednisone), dexamethasone and other glucocorticoids, etc.
When the child arrives at the hospital, the first thing that needs to be done is an X-ray of the metacarpal finger of the left wrist to understand the age of the bone and to determine the growth of the child’s bones, the degree of epiphyseal closure and growth potential. Secondly, blood, urine, liver and kidney function, calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase, and thirdly, a growth hormone stimulation test (thyroxine, growth factor level, etc.) should be performed. For girls, blood chromosomes will be checked to determine if the child has congenital ovarian hypoplasia, and other special tests for short stature will be recommended by the doctor.
Through these tests, the doctor can make a clear diagnosis of the cause of the child’s short stature and formulate a reasonable treatment plan.