Evaluation of child with short stature

Abstract

Short stature, a common pediatric problem, has been variously defined as length/height under third percentile for age (according to international standard), under fifth percentile or below the 3rd standard deviation of mean age (according to ICMR standard) or when the child is small for the mid parental size (a rough statistical measurement of family height). A deceleration in the rate of growth to less than 4 cm/year is often serious and is usually the earliest sign of abnormality of growth.