Assessment of childhood short stature: a GP guide

[摘要] INTRODUCTION Childhood short stature may be an early indicator of chronic illness, psychosocial deprivation, or may be a normal variant.1,2 In England, 2% of 4–5-year-olds are short for their age and sex (height below 2nd centile). Prevalence is strongly linked to poverty; in England, the most deprived areas have twice the prevalence of short stature compared with the least deprived.3 It is critical that primary care providers are able to accurately assess a child’s growth when they encounter short children or when assessing chronic illness. It is helpful to recognise that currently girls and ethnic minority groups with short stature are less likely to be referred, assessed, and treated despite their greater need.4,5 It is crucial that clinicians recognise their implicit biases and understand the social disparities in the assessment of childhood short stature to improve timely diagnosis, referral, and early access to treatment.6 This article outlines how to undertake a targeted assessment in a child presenting with short stature.

[学科分类] 卫生学