I. Choice of hospital
It is best to have a separate pediatric endocrinology department in order to conduct systematic endocrine examination for children with dwarfism.
Second, the choice of department
Children with dwarfism need to go to the pediatric endocrinology department, or if the hospital does not have a pediatric endocrinology department, they can also go to the pediatric health department.
III. Parents of children with dwarfism should explain to the attending doctor in detail the following before the consultation.
1. the pregnancy status of the mother
2. The time when the child was found to be short
3.The child’s gender, age, height and weight
4.Height/weight 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 tests, 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 of children with short stature should provide the following information when they 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 annual rate of height growth; shoes should be removed for the measurement.
3.Family members’ height and developmental age, whether there are genetic diseases.
4.Intellectual development, the presence of chronic hepatitis, kidney disease and asthma.
5, whether the use of drugs affecting growth and development, such as prednisone (prednisone), dexamethasone and other glucocorticoids.
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 bone age and to determine the child’s bone growth, the degree of epiphyseal closure and growth potential. Secondly, blood and urine tests, liver and kidney functions, calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase will be done, and thirdly, growth hormone stimulation tests (thyroxine, growth factor levels, etc.) will be performed. For girls, blood chromosomes will be checked to determine if the child has congenital ovarian hypoplasia, and other special tests related to short stature should be recommended by the treating 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.