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SynopsisCodesDifferential Diagnosis & PitfallsBest TestsDrug Reaction DataReferences
Growth retardation
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Growth retardation

Contributors: Christine Osborne MD, Marilyn Augustine MD
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Synopsis

Short stature refers to a child whose height is ≥2 standard deviations below the mean for sex and age and may be a normal growth variant or secondary to underlying disease. Normal variants of growth failure include:
  • Familial short stature – Low-normal growth velocity throughout life with normal bone age.
  • Constitutional growth delay – Results in childhood short stature, as children grow at a low-normal rate but have normal adult height. Puberty is typically delayed, with bone age correlating to height age.
  • Idiopathic short stature – Height below 2 standard deviations of the mean for age and sex without identifiable underlying cause.
In addition, there are several pathologic causes of growth failure including:
  • Undernutrition – Low height-for-weight with inadequate caloric intake.
  • Glucocorticoid therapy – Causes decreased growth via interference of endogenous growth hormone secretion and bone formation. Catch-up growth may occur with cessation of steroids.
  • Gastrointestinal (GI) disease – Decreased height velocity before the onset of GI symptoms (Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis, Celiac disease) and are often underweight for height.
  • Renal disease – Growth failure is seen in 1/3 children with renal disease due to dietary restrictions, anorexia, uremia, metabolic acidosis, or use of steroids for treatment.
  • Rheumatologic disease – Conditions, especially juvenile idiopathic arthritis, are associated with growth failure thought to be secondary to inflammatory cytokines and corticosteroid therapy.
  • Genetic causes – Turner syndrome, Noonan syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, Russell-Silver syndrome, and various skeletal dysplasias lead to short stature.
  • Endocrine diseases – Characterized by excess weight-for-height and may be secondary to Cushing syndrome, hypothyroidism, or growth hormone deficiency.
  • Cancer – Poor growth can be seen during treatment for cancer due to negative side effects of chemotherapy, although catch-up growth may be seen once therapy is completed. Late effects of cranial radiation therapy may be seen due to hypothalamic damage.

Codes

ICD10CM:
P05.9 – Newborn affected by slow intrauterine growth, unspecified

SNOMEDCT:
444896005 – Growth Retardation

Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls

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Drug Reaction Data

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References

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Last Updated:10/29/2015
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Growth retardation
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A medical illustration showing key findings of Growth retardation : Short stature
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