Short Child

Introduction

If the height of a child is much less than average, it could be due to any one of the following. Petite build of parents, small size of birth, chronic infections and bronchial asthma and congenital heart disease.

• Petite build of parents : A child may take after  his mother or father who is short. The child may have a sudden increase in height as he enters his teens.
• Small size of birth : Children with low birth weight and length are likely to remain small, even if they are born at the expected time.(small for date babies)
• Chronic infections : Undiagnosed and untreated chronic infections like a urinary infection can be responsible for poor gain in weight and height.
• Severe bronchial asthma and congenital heart disease.(C.H.D) can cause shortness of stature.
• Less common causes : Hormonal disorders like hypothyroidism and growth hormone deficiency, though uncommon, must be diagnosed and treated promptly. Certain chromosomal disorders and hereditary disorders affecting the skeleton can also result in stunted growth. 

Besides treatment of  an obvious cause for being short, there is no specific measure to increase height. 

Swimming and exercise are desirable, but one should not expect  that the  child's height will increase with such method. The same is true for healthy diet. Of course if the child has been ill fed from an early age, his height and weight will  be affected. But pushing the child to eat more does not help. 

Vitamin and iron unless indicated for specific reason  are not helpful in increasing height

Similarly drugs to stimulate appetite  or of no use  and can in fact  be harmful. A growth hormone is sometimes given,if indicated under the close supervision of a pediatrician or an endocrinologist.

https://madhuchhandacdmo.blogspot.com/2021/03/short-child.html

•