60 per cent of children have growth problems
More than 60 per cent of children with growth problems are diagnosed late, experts say
Dubai: More than 60 per cent of children who have growth problems, and commonly fail to gain normal height, are diagnosed late, said doctors from Dubai Hospital speaking exclusively to Gulf News.
In the last six months alone, more than 60 per cent of patients (around 50) at the Hospital’s paediatric endocrinology department have been diagnosed with short stature, thyroid disorders and early puberty.
The department is the only fully specialised government unit in Dubai handling complex cases ranging from endocrine diseases and other related pituitary and adrenal disorders.
“There isn’t enough time to treat growth problems if diagnosis is delayed; treatment is difficult and less effective. Parents tend to wait till a child is ten years old and over,” said Dr Hassan Ali Mundi, consultant paediatric endocrinologist.
The reasons for the late diagnosis are varied, he explained.
“Most parents may think that their children are late bloomers. As a result I have patients who are 10, but are often mistaken to be four or five years younger. Parents tend to realise late only after seeing differences in height compared to the child’s peers. Psychologically and socially, growth problems can upset a child,” he said.
The most common growth problems are short stature, early puberty (in boys, earlier than nine and girls, earlier than eight), and thyroid disorders.
At the Hospital, the cause of growth problems is determined through a series of tests. “To determine treatment, we have to diagnose the exact cause. The causes can range from malnutrition, birth defect, disease of any organs like kidneys, deformities in bone structure and genetic disorders like Turner, Down’s and Prader-Willi Syndromes,” he said.
Visiting Prof. Heinrich Schmidt, paediatric endocrinologist, added, “Paediatricians are the first point of contact and should refer young patients with growth problems to paediatric endocrinologists so treatment can take place earlier when still effective. Documentation and communication too should improve between the primary care centres (PHCs) and hospitals regarding such cases, which tend to be more complex and rare due to consanguineous [between relatives] marriages.”
