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(HealthNewsDigest.com)-If you’re like many parents, you probably chronicle your child’s growth in any number of ways, from photographs to markings on a door frame or comparisons to siblings or classmates. One reason we monitor growth is that normal growth is an excellent indicator of good health in children. But what happens when a child is not growing at the same rate as his peers?
Typically, between ages 2 and 12 years, children should grow at least two inches per year. There are a number of reasons a child may not grow, from nutritional issues to thyroid disorders, a growth hormone deficiency or genetic syndromes. Parents concerned about their child’s growth should speak with their pediatrician and ask for a referral to a pediatric endocrinologist, who will review the many factors that contribute to healthy growth.
One factor that is often overlooked as a cause for poor growth is IGF-1 deficiency. Some children can have normal growth hormone levels and good nutrition but still fail to grow normally because they have low levels of IGF-1. IGF-1 stands for insulin-like growth factor-1, a hormone made in the liver that mediates the effects of growth hormone.
“For patients with growth disorders, speedy, correct diagnosis is very important to ensure proper treatment,” said Dr. Jay Cohen, medical director of the Endocrine Clinic, P.C. “Time spent waiting for a growth spurt or treating with the wrong therapy can seriously hurt a child’s chances of reaching normal height.”
IGF-1 deficiency is diagnosed by conducting a careful review of a child’s medical history, comparing a child’s height to a growth chart, ruling out other growth delay causes and performing a series of blood tests.
If you think your child is not growing adequately, talk to your pediatrician and request a referral to a pediatric endocrinologist. Ask your doctor about your child’s rate of growth and discuss his or her height relative to peers. In assessing a child’s growth, keeping accurate records of a child’s height each year is important. Children have a short time to grow, so the sooner a child gets a correct diagnosis and treatment, the better the child’s chance of reaching his or her full height potential.
For more information on IGF-1, visit www.magicfoundation.org.
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