If your child has growth issues, it means they fall outside the average range of growth for children of the same age, sex, and racial background.

Every child develops at a different pace. If your child doesn’t meet certain milestones, it doesn’t necessarily mean something’s wrong. Even so, it’s crucial to get them checked out, just in case.

Growth issues in children occur for various reasons, including:

• A family history of abnormally short or tall stature
• Delay of growth or puberty development
• Illnesses that affect the entire body (systemic diseases)
• Endocrine diseases
• Gigantism
• Genetic abnormalities

Your child might also experience growth issues that occur for no apparent reason.

Most children with growth issues look smaller in stature than their peers. For example, if your child grows less than 2 inches per year after their third birthday, it may indicate an underlying growth issue. Since many growth issues occur alongside other medical conditions, it’s important to visit the team at Abdow Friendship Pediatrics for routine checkups.

At Abdow Friendship Pediatrics, the team treats various growth issues, including: 

Failure to thrive 

Failure to thrive occurs when a child’s height and weight fall below the third or fifth percentile. That means their average height and weight are significantly lower than peers of the same age, sex, and race. Common causes of failure to thrive include poor nutrition and neglect. 

Short stature, growth hormone deficiency, idiopathic short stature 

If your child has a short stature, it means they’re shorter than peers of the same age, sex, and race. Some children are short due to genetics. Other times, a short stature points to an underlying medical issue, like a hormonal imbalance or a nutritional deficiency.  

Obesity 

Obesity is a growth issue characterized by excess weight. All kids carry their weight differently, but if your child experiences joint pain, breathing problems, or high blood pressure, it’s crucial to seek treatment.

Treatment of growth issues depends on various factors, including your child’s age, the severity of their symptoms, and the underlying cause. Often, healthy lifestyle changes help. For example, eating a more balanced diet, sleeping well, and exercising regularly might make all the difference.

If your child has a thyroid disorder or another condition that affects the production of hormones, the team might recommend growth hormone therapy. All of this can be addressed here in the office with our pediatric endocrinologist and not be referred to another specialist. 

To explore the treatment options for growth issues, make an appointment for your child at Abdow Friendship Pediatrics by calling the office or booking online today.

We specialize in Pediatric and Adolescent medicine in Rockville, MD. Call us to book your appointment today.