الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract The present study has two objectives: Firstly, to determine the relative frequency of short stature among outpatient attendants of Bab EL-Sha’reya University Hospital (survey study). Secondly, to evaluate cases of short stature selected from the outpatient clinic or referred from other physicians using a simplify algorithm to reach the diagnosis through history and clinical examination including the use of various growth charts (NCHS Charts) followed by specific investigations according to the clinical case. It was concluded that short stature constitutes a common health problem among children that necessitates intervention, half of the cases of short stature are either familial or constitutional, while the other half are due to pathological causes. The highest relative frequency of short stature appears in children aged 1-5 years. Preventable causes for short stature include chronic systemic diseases, rickets, deprivation and intrauterine foetal growth retardation. These constitutes about one-fourth of the cases that necessitate treatment. |