Anemia, a condition where oxygen delivery to developing organs and tissues is reduced, can lead to fatigue, poor appetite, and decreased physical activity in children. This impacts growth. If prolonged, anemia hinders physical development, preventing children from reaching their optimal height for their age. Reduced energy and physical activity can also adversely affect bone system development.

Hypothyroidism is an endocrine condition that can affect a child's height development. Thyroid hormones play a vital role in growth, aiding the development of growth cartilage and supporting growth hormone function. When the body does not produce enough thyroid hormones, bone development can slow, resulting in children growing less than usual.

Children with hypothyroidism may also experience fatigue, weight gain, constipation, dry skin, and delayed physical and academic development. Without timely detection and treatment, this condition can impact adult height.

Parents should regularly measure their children's height to closely monitor physical development. Illustration: Benh vien Da khoa Tam Anh.

Growth hormone (GH) stimulates the liver to produce IGF-1, a substance crucial for the development of growth cartilage in long bones. When the body lacks GH, the process of bone development and lengthening slows, causing children to grow less than their peers.

Children with GH deficiency often have short stature and a persistently slow growth rate, even with adequate nutrition. Early detection and appropriate treatment can improve growth rate, allowing children to reach optimal adult height.

Conditions like: chronic inflammatory bowel disease, malabsorption syndrome, or Celiac disease can prevent children from absorbing sufficient protein, calcium, vitamin D, iron, and other micronutrients essential for growth. Persistent diarrhea, abdominal pain, or poor appetite also reduce the amount of nutrients entering the body.

Over time, such nutrient deficiencies can affect bone development and slow height growth. Early detection and treatment of digestive conditions help limit their impact on a child's physical development.

Le Nguyen (Compiled)