Children experience different phases of growth from birth through adolescence. Between 2 and 10 years is when a child should grow steadily and, with the arrival of adolescence, a sudden increase in growth is experienced. In this process it is necessary to consume the necessary nutrients that allow normal growth. Sometimes a child may experience growth abnormalities that lead to irregular development . At FastlyHealwe explain the causes of poor growth in children .
Table of Contents
Stages of growth of a child
- Breastfeeding . During this period, it is normal for the baby to lose some weight at birth, but then begin to grow and gain weight within a few weeks. When the baby is 6 months old, he should be twice as heavy as when he was born. When the child is between 1 and 2 years old, he begins to walk and also gains weight.
- Old school . From here is when the child experiences constant growth until they reach 10 years of age and the amount of calories they must consume for normal development will vary.
- Adolescence . In this cap you experience a sudden increase in growth that causes hormonal changes. Hair appears in the armpits, pubic area, among others, and the reproductive organs develop.
Endocrine diseases
Hormones carried by the endocrine system throughout the body help regulate growth . As a consequence, growth can be stopped in those cases where the endocrine system is affected. We can find two factors:
- Growth hormone deficiency . It occurs when the hormone responsible for growth is not produced. This hormone is produced in the pituitary gland , a gland located in the brain with the function of secreting hormones in charge of some processes such as growth. When this hormone is absent or scarce, growth is affected.
- Hypothyroidism . It is the lack of thyroid hormone in the blood. In babies it can cause inadequate brain development, while in children it causes slow growth.
Stature-weight retardation
It is not considered a disorder, but it is the name associated with those children who experience a lower weight than other children of the same age and sex. It is produced by factors related to poverty, inadequate nutrition, malnutrition, etc. Children with stature-weight retardation may experience growth failure or very slow growth .
genetic cause
Another cause of growth failure may be due to genetic factors . Some children tend to develop more slowly than others of the same sex and age. This does not necessarily mean that they eat an inadequate diet, but simply that their growth will take place later than that of other children. This can be the consequence of hereditary elements . In the same way, a child can present a short stature as a consequence of having inherited this condition from one of his parents.
Turner syndrome
It is a disease that occurs in girls. It is produced by the presence of a single X chromosome and carries the following symptoms:
- Incorrect egg formation that implies infertility.
- Delayed or incomplete development.
- Dry eyes and droopy eyelids.
- Menstruation does not take place.
- Problems with vaginal dryness.
Other causes of growth problems in children
Other causes that can also occur in the lack of growth in children can be:
- Inflammatory bowel disease.
- Chromosome abnormalities such as Down syndrome .
- Problems associated with very low cortisol levels, such as Cushing’s syndrome .
- Diseases related to the heart, brain, lungs or kidneys.
Recommendations for a normal growth of a child
During the growth period, it is essential to go to the pediatrician for a check-up carried out periodically. In this way, any type of anomaly can be detected and treated from the moment it is diagnosed. Among the most common reviews that are performed when we take a child to the pediatrician, are the relationship between weight and height , taking into account age and sex.
We must ensure that our child has a balanced diet , which allows him to grow at each stage of his development as well as worry about physical exercise and adaptation to healthy habits.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Causes of growth failure in children , we recommend that you enter our Endocrine System category .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.