Q: I have a five-year-old son in K2. He is only 102cm tall and this worries me as most of his classmates tower above him. He eats well, has a balanced diet, sleeps well and functions like any other child.
When he was one year old, he had dengue fever and stayed in hospital for a week. At the time, he also came down with an urinary tract infection and the doctors gave him a course of antibiotics. He had to take it for a few months after he was discharged.
He also had to undergo many tests, including one with an X-ray-like machine, to ensure his liver was not damaged.
Could the episode have led to his stunted growth? Were those tests really necessary for a baby? Is there anything I can do to boost his height and what are the side effects?
A: The X-ray tests that follow the urinary tract infection are to check for structural abnormalities associated with the infection, or any kidney scars that may have developed after the infection. This can occur in up to 50 per cent of infants with urinary tract infection.
There are many causes of short stature in children. An important cause to rule out is recurrent urinary tract infections, so his urine would have to be checked for bacteria.
It is unclear whether kidney function was tested and I would recommend that this should also be checked as children with kidney insufficiency or dysfunction resulting in disturbances in acid-base control can have short stature.
However, there are many other causes. These include normal variants such as familial short stature (the parents are short and the child's height is appropriate for the genetics of the family). There is also constitutional growth delay, in which the short child will eventually 'catch up" on his growth when he reaches puberty.
It is always best to consult a paediatrician to determine the cause of your child's short stature.
Professor Yap Hui Kim
Professor Yap Hui Kim is a senior consultant at the Children's Medical Institute at National University Hospital.
This article was first published in The Straits Times.
