Treatment of short stature in children and growth disorders at OpenMed Warsaw and Płock
Short stature in a child does not always mean a disease, but it always requires a proper assessment of the growth rate. If a child is clearly shorter than their peers, grows more slowly or has not been gaining centimetres in line with the centile charts for some time, it is worth consulting a specialist. At OpenMed in Warsaw and at OpenMed in Płock we provide diagnostics and treatment of growth disorders in children, helping to determine the cause of the problem and plan further management.
Short stature is diagnosed when a child's height is below the 3rd centile for age and sex, or when the growth rate is abnormal. Growth disorders can be familial and physiological, but they can also result from hormonal, genetic, metabolic diseases or chronic conditions affecting the body's development. Early diagnosis is crucial, because some causes can be effectively treated only during a specific period of a child's development.
Causes and symptoms of growth disorders
The growth rate depends on many factors - genetics, hormones, nutritional status and the child's general health. One of the more common causes is familial short stature, but disorders can also be related to growth hormone deficiency, thyroid diseases, chronic gastrointestinal diseases, genetic defects or premature puberty.
Symptoms that should prompt parents to seek consultation include above all a slower growth rate, a clear difference in height compared to peers, the absence of a "growth spurt" at the appropriate age, or short stature despite tall parents. Some children may also experience other symptoms such as chronic fatigue, weaker muscular development or delayed puberty.
Paediatric endocrinology specialists at OpenMed
Book a consultation for hormonal, growth, thyroid, and metabolic concerns in children and adolescents.
What does the diagnosis of growth disorders at OpenMed look like?
Diagnosis begins with a detailed interview about the course of the pregnancy, the child's development, chronic diseases and the parents' height. Our specialists analyse the centile charts, assess the growth rate and the child's body proportions. An important element is also bone age assessment, most often performed on the basis of an X-ray of the hand and wrist.
Depending on the clinical picture, the doctor may order additional hormonal, laboratory or genetic tests. The aim of the diagnosis is to determine whether the short stature falls within the limits of normal development or requires specialist treatment. Parents receive clear information regarding further management and therapeutic options.
Treatment of short stature in children
The method of treatment depends on the cause of the growth disorder. In some cases only regular observation and monitoring of the growth rate is necessary. However, if the cause is growth hormone deficiency or another hormonal disorder, specialist treatment can be implemented.
Management may include:
- regular monitoring of height and assessment of bone age,
- hormonal treatment in justified cases,
- diagnosis and therapy of diseases affecting the child's development,
- recommendations regarding nutrition, physical activity and lifestyle.
Our doctors at OpenMed, primarily paediatricians and endocrinologists, monitor the effects of therapy and adjust the treatment plan to the child's age and stage of puberty. It is important not only to achieve the best possible height, but also to support the proper physical and emotional development of the child.
Ongoing monitoring and specialist care
Growth disorders require regular check-ups, because the rate of puberty and growth changes with age. At OpenMed we provide comprehensive care and monitoring of treatment effects. Parents receive specific information on how to observe the child's development and when to come in for further visits.
If you notice that your child is growing more slowly than their peers or you want to consult their development with a doctor, book an appointment at OpenMed Warsaw or OpenMed Płock. Registration by phone and online - the OpenMed team will help you choose a suitable consultation time.
Treatment of short stature in children - FAQ
It is worth seeing a specialist if the child grows clearly more slowly than their peers or if their height is below the norms for their age.
No. In many cases short stature is related to familial factors and requires only observation.
Most often these are hormonal and laboratory tests as well as bone age assessment based on an X-ray of the hand and wrist.
Treatment carried out under the supervision of a specialist is monitored and adjusted individually to the child's needs.
Yes, proper nutrition is one of the important factors influencing development and growth rate.