Growth Tutorial

Question 1

How many people will fall within 1 SD of the mean?

How many people will fall within 2 SD of the mean?

How many people will fall within 3 SD of the mean?

Answer 1

68. 3%
69. 4%
70. 7%

Question 2

What two things (in terms of a growth chart) can define short stature?

Answer 2

Less than the 2nd centile for height

> 2SDs below the mid-parental height

Question 3

What are some causes for short stature which are completely normal?

Answer 3

Familial short stature

Constitutional growth delay

Question 4

If a child has short stature, and was told at the time of birth that they were small for gestational age, give an example of what could be causing this?

Answer 4

Foetal alcohol syndrome

Question 5

If a child has short stature, and was not known at birth to have been small for their gestational age, give an example of what could be causing this?

Answer 5

Turner’s syndrome

(probably any cause of absent puberty)

Question 6

Name some conditions which are known to cause short stature?

Answer 6

Skeletal dysplasias

Chronic disease (e.g. Crohn’s / CF)

Psychosocial deprivation

Endocrine diseases

Question 7

What are some endocrine conditions which are known to cause short stature?

Answer 7

GH insufficiency

Hypothyroidism

Cushing’s

Question 8

What is the avergae difference between adult male and female heights?

Answer 8

13cm

Question 9

The adult heigh predictor estimates the adult height based on the child’s current height. How accurate is this?

Answer 9

4/5 children will have an adult height within 6cm of this value

Question 10

How accurate is the mid-parental height calculator?

Answer 10

9/10 children will be within 2 centile spaces of the mid-parental centile

Question 11

What is the most common reason for the referral of a child with short stature?

Answer 11

Familial short stature

Question 12

If a child is healthy and you suspect the cause of short stature to be familial, what should you do just to make sure?

Answer 12

Check there are no endocrine disorders

Check the bone age is normal (x-ray)

Check there is not an inherited skeletal dysplasia in the family

Question 13

What is a constitutional growth delay?

Answer 13

A temporary delay in growth with no physical abnormality causing the delay

Question 14

What will a child with constitutional growth delay’s chart look like?

Answer 14

They will be beneath, but parallel to the growth centiles for their pre-pubertal years

Question 15

When will puberty occur in a child with constitutional growth delay?

Answer 15

Delayed

Question 16

Will children with a constitutional growth delay have a normal adult height and sexual development?

Answer 16

Yes

Question 17

What is the only problem which may occur with a constitutional growth delay?

If this problem is not present, will these children differ from the norm in school performance and socialisation?

Answer 17

Psychological impact

No