Question
My son weighed 2.9 kilograms and was 48 centimeters tall at birth. Due to hospitalization for more than 20 days due to jaundice caused by umbilical cord infection, he has a weaker constitution and often gets colds and falls ill. Now, at three weeks and eight days old, he weighs 16 kilograms and is 94.4 centimeters tall. Can the doctor write a larger prescription? Because the doctor says it takes three hours to draw blood, and I’m worried about my baby’s small stature.
Answer
There are many reasons for children to have short stature, including hereditary factors across generations. The height of the parents does not necessarily affect their children, especially during the first 1-2 years. If malnutrition occurs, it can affect the final height. In addition, the child may have skeletal diseases, hypothyroidism, or pituitary diseases (which usually appear after 3 years of age). However, if the child’s body proportions are symmetrical, chromosomal diseases such as Down syndrome can also lead to short stature. It is recommended that you take your child to a children’s hospital for a detailed examination to rule out the above causes.