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Short StatureWhat you need to know:There are no alternative treatments for growth problems caused by hormonal disorders, but if your child is suffering because of other underlying illnesses, see advice under the appropriate headings.It’s worth remembering, however, that height is very much determined by your family history. If both parents and all four grandparents are short, you’re not likely to give birth to a lad destined to become a strapping 6-footer or a girl who’ll grow as tall as Jerry Hall. But it’s rate of growth, rather than exact height at a given age that matters. If you’re becoming concerned, keep track using one of those colourful height charts which children love to put on their bedroom doors. And if they’re head and shoulders shorter that most of their friends of the same age, or their younger brothers and sisters begin to tower over them, there’s a real need for investigation. There are specialist clinics in major hospitals which deal with growth hormone deficiencies, but to be effective, the treatment must be started as early as possible. For some inexplicable reason, there are GPs who seem reluctant to refer children to the appropriate consultants and there’s a tendency to label parents worried about their child’s growth as neurotic. But a mother’s instincts are seldom wrong, and if you’re worried, insist that a specialist sees your child. In the absence of disease, the prime requisite for healthy growth is healthy food. Children need as wide a variety as possible - including lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, complex carbohydrates like rice, wholemeal bread and pasta, dairy products, lean meat, poultry and fish - to provide a full spectrum of the essential nutrients. They need lots of calories, but they should only come from burgers and chips, sausages, pies and other processed foods, or from sweets, crisps or bars of chocolate once in a while. |
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