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Short stature
Definition:
Short stature is refers to any person who is significantly below the average height for a person of the same age and sex -- specifically, the shortest 5% of the population. The term may refer to children or adolescents who are significantly below the average height of their peers. Considerations:
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Short stature is not necessarily a symptom or sign. 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 and, as many of these conditions are treatable, should be evaluated by a health care provider. Common Causes:
- Inherited and genetic factors
- Hypothyroidism that develops before birth
- Delayed puberty (causes temporary short stature, but normal height is eventually achieved)
- Precocious puberty
- Malnourishment
- Chronic diseases, such as congenital heart disease, kidney diseases, asthma, sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes
- Malabsorption disorders such as celiac disease
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- AIDS
- Achondroplasia
- Russell-Silver syndrome
- Hypopituitarism
- Pituitary dwarfism
- Craniopharyngioma
- Rickets
- Turner syndrome
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