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Short stature

• Overview
• Treatment

Definition:

Short stature refers to any person who is significantly below the average height for a person of the same age and sex -- specifically, the shortest 3 - 5% of the population.

The term often refers to children or adolescents who are significantly below the average height of their peers.

Considerations:

Short stature is not necessarily a symptom or sign of a health problem. Two relatively short but healthy parents may have an entirely healthy child who is in the shortest 5%.

On the other hand, short stature may be a symptom caused by a medical condition. Since many of these conditions are treatable, the person should be examined by a health care provider. The rate of growth over time is important in determining the cause.

Common Causes:

• Achondroplasia
• AIDS
• Chronic diseases such as congenital heart disease, kidney diseases, asthma, sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes
• Craniopharyngioma
• Cushing's disease
• Delayed puberty (causes temporary short stature, but normal height is eventually achieved)
• Down syndrome
• Hypopituitarism
• Hypothyroidism that develops before birth
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Malabsorption disorders such as celiac disease
• Malnutrition
• Pituitary dwarfism
• Precocious puberty
• Rickets
• Russell-Silver syndrome
• Turner syndrome

This list is not all-inclusive.

• Review Date: 2/14/2007
• Reviewed By: Leisha M. Andersen, M.D., Private Practice specializing in Pediatrics, Denver, CO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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