What are the warning signs that a child may not grow tall?
Disease description:
Children the same age as my son are quite tall. He used to grow quickly, but now his growth has slowed down. I'm worried he won't grow tall. What are the signs that a child may not grow properly?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Ma Yan
A sign that a child may not grow taller is a slowing of growth velocity. An X-ray examination of the growth plates (epiphyses) can determine whether they have closed; once the growth plates in the knee and hip joints close, height increase essentially stops. If muscle mass becomes fuller and body weight gradually increases, this may indicate a signal of halted growth. Additionally, during the growth and development period, children typically have a large appetite; if growth ceases, appetite often decreases, which may contribute to failure to grow taller.
