Question
An eight-month-old female infant, weighing 4.15 kilograms at birth, currently has a head circumference of 42 centimeters, a weight of 7 kilograms, and a height of 67 centimeters. She is still unstable in sitting posture. Compared to children of the same age, she appears slightly smaller in stature. How should one handle short stature in full-term small-for-gestational-age babies?
Answer
Short stature in full-term small-for-gestational-age babies may be due to inadequate intrauterine nutrition or developmental abnormalities. If caused by nutritional deficiency, growth can often be caught up with through appropriate nutritional supplementation. It is recommended to regularly monitor the child’s height and weight development. Additionally, one should consider the possibility of chromosomal abnormalities or metabolic diseases. If growth and development do not keep pace with peers, it is advisable to visit the pediatric health department of a large hospital for a detailed examination and receive corresponding treatment based on the diagnosis.