Characteristics and etiologies of short stature in children: Experience of an endocrine clinic in a Tunisian tertiary care hospital

Factors influencing stunted growth in children: A study in Bandung regency focusing on a deworming program

The prevalence of neglected tropical diseases, specifically those caused by soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) and other parasites that infest the intestine as part of their life cycle, remains a problem in Indonesia. We assessed the effects of deworming programs and socioeconomic and ecological factors on the incidence rate of infections with STHs and other parasites in an urban area of the Bandung Regency. We recruited 361 children with stunted growth who met the inclusion criteria, and 48 of those children were at high risk of STH infection. The study was conducted between September 2020 and September 2021. We collected possible socioeconomic factors influencing the incidence rate of infections. We found the incidence rate of STH infections among the children with stunted growth to be 3.6%. We confirmed infections with Cyclospora and Cryptosporidium after a Ziehl-Nieelsen stool smear examination in two of the 48 children at risk of infection. We found 43.75% of the children had short stature and weight below the normal limits, while stunting and severe stunting were associated with Ascaris lumbricoides infection (44.70%, p = 0.035). Parents of children with stunted and severely stunted growth were more likely to have a low education level, lack knowledge about deworming program, and to be earning a low income. The mother's occupation had a particularly strong influence on the severity of the stunting (89.58%, p = 0.012). Our results show that deworming programs can affect the growth and development of children and that socioeconomic and ecological factors also play a role.

Prevalence and socioeconomic correlates of growth impairment among Saudi children and adolescents

BACKGROUND

Saudi Arabia has witnessed economic prosperity leading to changes in diet and lifestyle. Concurrent with these changes, the prevalence rates of overweight and obesity are rising. No recent data exist on the trends and pattern of growth impairment among Saudi children. We aimed to provide the most recent estimate of the prevalence of thinness and short stature among healthy school-aged children in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and to investigate the effect of parental socioeconomic status (SES) on growth impairment.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2015 among schoolchildren in Riyadh. A sample of 7931 children (67% girls) aged 6-16 years was randomly selected. Body mass index (BMI) z-score <-2 SD and height z-score <-2 SD, for age and sex, using the WHO reference 2007, defined thinness and short stature, respectively. To assess the impact of SES on growth, we categorized SES into 4 levels by incorporating 4 main indicators: parents' educational level, family income, type of residence, and parents' jobs.

RESULTS

The prevalence of short stature was 15%, and the prevalence of thinness was 3.5%. Stratification of the thinness prevalence rate according to gender indicated that boys were significantly thinner than girls (4.7% versus 2.8%, P = 0.048). Short stature was significantly higher among children in the lower SES classes than among their counterparts in the higher SES classes. Parents of thin children were more likely to be less educated, have less income, live in apartments, and have a lower SES than parents of overweight and obese children.

CONCLUSIONS

The rate of thinness among Saudi children is low, similar to that in developed countries, and is significantly correlated with SES.

Etiologies, profile patterns and characteristics of children with short stature in Jordan

OBJECTIVES

Childhood growth influences their social and psychological behavior, and abnormal growth may reflect underlying pathological etiologies. It is important to diagnose children with short stature as early as possible to be able to manage treatable causes. We aim to study etiologies and characteristics of short stature in children in Jordan.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional retrospective review of the medical records of children diagnosed with short stature at a referral university hospital. Clinical characteristics, auxological, laboratory, and radiological investigations were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

Among a total of 551 children diagnosed with short stature, the number of boys was significantly higher than girls, 304 (55.2%) and 247 (44.8%), respectively with a p-value of 0.015. Average age at presentation for all patients was 10.24 ± 3.23, with no significant difference between boys and girls. Pathological etiology was higher than normal variants 55.7 and 44.3%, respectively with p=0.007. Constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP) was the most frequent cause in the normal variant group, 59.8%. Among the pathological group, the most common etiology was growth hormone deficiency (32.2%) with mean age of presentation of 9.40 years and was not significantly different from the age in other etiological groups, 9.44 years and p=0.931.

CONCLUSIONS

Growth monitoring of children should start at an early age for boys and girls. Referral to the pediatric endocrine clinic should be considered when growth problems are suspected for accurate diagnosis and etiology profiling.