TO STUDY THE ETIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF SHORT STATURE AMONG CHILDREN ATTENDING TERTIARY CARE CENTRE

Abstract

Background Early detection and diagnosis of short stature decrease the effect of any underlying health condition and optimizes final adult height.This study was done identify the etiological profile of short stature.Methodology This was a prospective observational study conducted in children aged 2 to 18 years with short stature. Children who fail to complete the etiological work up and those who are not fitting in definition for short stature were excluded. Results 80 children were included .44 were females and 36 were males. Endocrinological cause was the commonest, 53%(N=42) among which Growth hormone deficiency was predominant (20%).24 children(30%) had non endocrine causes among which syndromic causes were predominant(N=9).14 children had non pathological causes and familial short stature(N=8) was predominant in them Conclusion Pathological short stature was predominat among which endocrine causes were the commonest. Isolated Growth Hormone deficiency was the most common endocrine cause followed by hypopituitarism and hypothyroidism. There was statistically significant relationship between the presence of dysmorphism (p< .01) and parental consanguinity (p < .05) separately with the etiology. Majority (40%)were aged between 11-18 years denoting fairly late referral for short stature . So general paediatricians could be made aware of routine growth monitoring in children & early referral to a tertiary centre.