Does your child complain about being the smallest in his class? Is he being teased? It is important not to take this lightly. Indeed, a growth retardation can hide a pathology. The French Pediatric Society, the Novo Nordisk laboratories and the Grandir association are launching a campaign: “ To monitor the growth of children, there is still time! », In order to encourage parents to monitor their child’s height on a regular basis.
From when ?
“You have to watch your child’s height at any age“, explains Pr Agnès Linglart, professor of pediatrics, and head of the department of endocrinology and childhood diabetes, at the Bicêtre-Paris-Saclay hospital.”Because the earlier we mobilize, the better the results of the care“.
The signs that should alert
– The child wears the same clothes or the same shoe size two years in a row.
– It is taken for a child of an inferior age. For example, in CM2 class, his classmates ask him if he is in CE1 or CE2.
– He complains that he was called a dwarf or a minus in the playground.
Faced with these red flags, especially if they are repeated, it is important for parents to consult. For the doctor, several criteria make sound the alarm bell, it is not only the gross figure of the size which counts. “We are concerned, of course, if the child has a height below the curve on the health record.“, decrypts the pediatrician.”But we are also concerned about slowing the speed of growth. Third source of concern: if the parents are tall and the child is shorter than expected. “There are indeed tools to predict the size of the child based on those of his parents.
Measure your size: the right frequency
Regularly measuring the height of the child is essential in order to be able to trace his growth curve. For that, no need to have a height chart of doctor. Just measure it by tracing its size on the wall and repeat this gesture several times a year. The right frequency:
– Every three months until the age of one
– Three to four times a year until the age of 4
– Two to three times a year for up to 10 years
– Twice a year until the end of growth
Then report the figures on the growth curve of the health record to check that your child is well in the reference corridor. There are also apps or sites like unenjeudetaille.com to monitor this development. “When you take your child to the doctor for a routine check-up, at the start of the school year for example, you can ask for it to be measured. It’s fast and they are important indicators to draw the curve“, advises the pediatrician.
Small parents, we must also be concerned
“If the parents are small, generally families worry less“, notes Professor Agnès Linglart. However, this is not a reason not to be concerned about it.”It is still necessary to ensure that there is no underlying pathology. We realize that there are causes of growth retardation that are transmitted in families“, warns the specialist.
Behind growth retardation: pathologies to detect
Behind growth retardation, there may be a disease that should be detected. “Growth is affected by all childhood illnesses from the moment this illness lasts“, explains the specialist. All chronic diseases can cause growth retardation. Like an undiagnosed celiac disease, a lack of absorption of food, an inflammatory disease, a kidney failure, a liver problem …”Sometimes it is the stunted growth that allows the diagnosis of the disease“, notes Professor Linglart.
A deficiency in growth hormones or thyroid hormones can also have an influence on height.
Finally, diseases that affect the bones or their development can lead to severe growth retardation. This is the case, for example, with achondroplasia, a genetic disease caused by an abnormality in bone growth, responsible for dwarfism.
If children born with a small weight or a small birth size are 85% to catch up, remain the 15% who keep a gap. “From 2-3 years old, if the child has not caught up, it is necessary to monitor the growth closely“, advises the pediatrician.
When the environment influences size
Growth can also be influenced by the environment. Significant sleep disorders in children or the practice of high-level sport can affect their growth. Food obviously plays a role. A protein and calcium intake is essential. In children under 2 years of age, a vegan-type diet, without proteins and dairy products, has an impact on growth.
Treatments for stunted growth
“As the causes of delay are very numerous, the first treatment is to correct the disease causing the stunted growth.“, specifies Professor Agnès Linglart.”For example, in the event of undiagnosed celiac disease (this can occur early, before the age of 8), it will be the implementation of a gluten-free diet that will allow a return to normal.“
In other situations, treatment involves taking growth hormones. In the event of a deficiency of this hormone but also in certain diseases such as Turner syndrome, a genetic disorder, in dyschondrosteosis, a skeletal disease, or in the case of children born with gestational delay who have not caught up their expected size. That is why it is important to start treatment as early as possible. Since the 1980s, synthetic hormones have been used. “The treatment is followed very closely, with consultations every 3-4 months, in order to adjust it and give a personalized treatment to each child.“, specifies the specialist.
If the growth retardation is linked to nutritional deficiencies, the treatment may for example consist of treatment with calcium. “We recommend regular intakes of vitamin D, because it is very important for fixing calcium on the skeleton. This is also true for all children in the period of growth!“, specifies Pr Agnès Linglart.
More information on unenjeudetaille.com
Read also :
⋙ Growth: why it is important to measure your children regularly
⋙ Calcium needs: our advice to avoid deficiencies in children and teenagers
⋙ 5 amazing facts about our skeleton