Determination of the frequency of growth retardation in pediatric out patients with growth retardation complaints

Abstract

Aim: Having a healthy child is the most basic concern for parents, and their children being ill or showing signs of illness therefore causes them anxiety. Parents cannot generally be objective in assessing the growth of their own children. Children's growth must be evaluated solely with appropriate measurements and assessment criteria. The purpose of this study is to investigate the growth of patients with suspected retarded growth presenting to the children's health and diseases clinic. Material and Methods: One hundred patients presenting with retarded growth to the Adıyaman University Training and Research Hospital children's health and diseases clinic were included in this study. Patients were evaluated for retarded growth through measurement of weight, height and head circumference. Results: One hundred patients, 49 boys (49%) and 51 girls (51%) presenting with retarded growth were enrolled in the study. Patients' mean age was 47.62 ± 43.1 (3-192) months. The mean weight was 14.51 ± 7.9 (4.5-46.9) kg and mean height was 95.61 ± 23.14 (57-164) cm. Mean head circumference was 43.97 ± 2.6 (37-49) cm. In our observed population, the following measurements fell below the third percentile: Weight: 4 patients (4%); Weight and Height: 12 patients (12%); and Weight, Height and Head Circumference: 4 Patients (4%). Conclusion: An increasing number of concerned parents does not necessarily indicate any actual problem, or any abnormally high incidence of actual retarded growth and development than that might be expected from the literature. Well child visits must be performed and parents provided sufficient information on normal development.

Evaluation of parameters associated with growth retardation in children with coeliac disease

“…The present findings show that longer (19 months) duration of symptoms was significantly correlated with the presence of GR in the patients with CD compared to patients without GR (12 months). Whereas one study reported that 78% of 100 patients with GR as the presenting sign were not diagnosed with GR, 22 in the present study 76.3% of patients that presented with GR were medically diagnosed with GR ( P < 0.001). Moreover, as expected, the short duration (<2 years) of breastfeeding was also significantly correlated with the presence of GR.…”