Velayutham Kumaravel, Selvan S Sivan Arul, Jeyabalaji R V, Balaji S
Alpha Hospital and Research Centre, Institute of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2017 Nov-Dec;21(6):820-822. doi: 10.4103/ijem.IJEM_149_17.
Short stature (SS) is a common pediatric problem and it might be the first sign of underlying illness. Studies documenting the burden and etiological profile of SS are scarce from India and are mostly limited to data obtained from referral centers. Due to the lack of large-scale, community-based studies utilizing a standard protocol, the present study aimed to assess the prevalence and etiological profile of SS in school children of a South Indian district.
In this cross-sectional study, children aged 4-16 years from 23 schools in Madurai district, Tamil Nadu, underwent anthropometric measurements and height was plotted in Khadilkar . growth chart. The cause of SS was assessed using clinical and laboratory evaluations in assigned children with a height less than third centile.
A total of 15644 children belonging to 23 schools were evaluated, and 448 (2.86%) children had SS. Etiological evaluation was further performed in 87 randomly assigned children, and it is identified that familial SS or constitutional delay in growth was the most common cause of SS in the study population (66.67%). Hypothyroidism and growth hormone deficiency were the two most common pathological causes of SS seen in 12 (13.79%) and 8 (9.20%) children, respectively. Malnutrition was the cause of SS in 6 (6.9%) children and cardiac disorders, psychogenic SS, and skeletal dysplasia were other identified causes of SS in the study.
The overall prevalence of SS in school children was 2.86% and familial SS or constitutional delay in growth was the most common cause of SS. As a significant percentage of children with SS had correctable causes, monitoring growth with a standard growth chart should be mandatory in all schools.
身材矮小（SS）是常见的儿科问题，可能是潜在疾病的首个迹象。来自印度的记录身材矮小负担及病因的研究较少，且大多局限于从转诊中心获得的数据。由于缺乏采用标准方案的大规模社区研究，本研究旨在评估印度南部某地区在校儿童中身材矮小的患病率及病因。
在这项横断面研究中，对泰米尔纳德邦马杜赖区23所学校中4至16岁的儿童进行人体测量，并将身高绘制在Khadilkar生长图表上。对身高低于第三百分位数的指定儿童，通过临床和实验室评估来评估身材矮小的原因。
共评估了来自23所学校的15644名儿童，其中448名（2.86%）儿童身材矮小。对87名随机分配的儿童进一步进行病因评估，发现家族性身材矮小或生长发育体质性延迟是研究人群中身材矮小最常见的原因（66.67%）。甲状腺功能减退症和生长激素缺乏症是身材矮小最常见的两种病理原因，分别在12名（13.79%）和8名（9.20%）儿童中出现。营养不良是6名（6.9%）儿童身材矮小的原因，心脏疾病、精神性身材矮小和骨骼发育异常是该研究中其他已确定的身材矮小原因。
在校儿童中身材矮小的总体患病率为2.86%，家族性身材矮小或生长发育体质性延迟是身材矮小最常见的原因。由于相当比例的身材矮小儿童有可纠正的病因，所有学校都应强制使用标准生长图表监测生长情况。
