paediatric growth and endocrine Flashcards
what is normal growth and why is a precise definition difficult
- wide range within healthy population
- different ethnic subgroups
- inequality in basic health and nutrition
normal may relate to individuals or populations
bone age
- radiographs must be high quality
- evaluation by skilled practitioner
- pathological conditions can distort bones, severe osteopenia confuses interpretatin
- analyse 20 bones - long and short
assessment tools for growth
- height/length/weight - serial measurements are important, measure at each appointment
- growth charts and plotting
- MPII and target centiles
- growth velocity
- bone age
- pubertal assessment
further things to consider when assessing slowed growth
- birth weight and gestation
- PMH
- FHx/SHx/schooling
- systematic enquiry
- dysmorphic features
- systemic examination incl pubertal assessment
growth disorders: indications for referral
- extreme short/tall stature - off centiles
- height below target height
- abnormal height velocity - crossing centiles
- hx chronic disease
- obvious dysmorphic syndrome
- early/late puberty
common causes of short stature
familial
constitutional - delay of growth and puberty, variation of normal, delayed bone age can indicate delayed puberty
SGA/IUGR
management of constitutional delay of growth and puberty
often watch and wait
can bring puberty forward w/ short course of testosterone
investigations for short stature
- FBC, ferritin - general health, coeliac, crohn’s, JCA
- U+E, LFT, Ca, CRP - general health, renal and liver disease, disorders of Ca metabolism
- coeliac serology and IgA - coeliac
- IGF-1, TFT, prolactin, cortisol, (gonadotrophin and sex hormones) - hormonal disorders
- karyotype/microarray - turner’s syndrome, chromosomal abnormalities
why can we not measure growth hormone
released in a pulsatile manner - one off sample isn’t reflective
IGF-1 is a more stable and indirect marker of GH production
what can cause growth hormone deficiency
pituitary GH deficiency - ectopic posterior pituitary and small anterior pituitary
how is Tanner staging done
- assessment by clinical examination
- undertaken only w/ parental and child consent and adequate privacy
- requires considerable expertise
what is Tanner staging used for
staging of puberty
Tanner stages
B - 1-5 breast development
G - 1-5 genital development
PH - 1-5 pubic hair
AH - 1-3 axillary hair
T - 2-2ml testicular volume
SO e.g. statement such as B3 PH3 or G2 PH2 6/6
- stage 1 = prepubertal
- 2 = beginning
hormones in puberty
hypothalamus → GnRh → pituitary gland → LH, FSH → gonads
testis → testosterone
ovaries → oestrogen
relationship between growth and other changes in puberty
- puberty starts earlier in girls (~10y/o) - breast budding and growth spurt
- menarche occurs ~1.5-2yrs after breast budding
- boys start puberty ~11-12- penile growth, growth spurt occurs ~ ½ way through puberty and is more marked
- facial hair occurs towards the end of puberty
ages for early and delayed puberty in boys
<9 (rare)
>14 (common, esp CDGP)
early and delayed puberty in girls
<8
>13 (rare)
constitutional delay of growth and puberty
boys mainly
FHx in dad/brothers
bone age delay
need to exclude organic disease