What are the Causes of Short Stature in Children?

A child's stature is determined, in large part, by genetics. If his parents are short, chances are very good that he, too, will be short (familial short stature). However, nutrition and disease play a part in a child's development and ultimate height, according to Keepkidshealthy.com.

Growth Hormone Deficiency

• If a child is noticeably shorter than her peers, some parents, particularly those who aren't short themselves, may worry that their child has a growth hormone deficiency. Hormones are necessary for a child to grow at the normal rate. If a child does have a hormonal deficiency, she may look young for her age and is, obviously, shorter than other children her age. She may also have a weight issue and be wider than she is tall. Tests can be done by a physician to determine if a child does have a hormone deficiency. Some children are born with a hormone deficiency while others develop it via head trauma or because of the existence of a brain mass or tumor. Treatments for growth hormone deficiency include hormone replacement.

Full-term But Small

• Another reason for short stature in a child is being small at birth, according to Keepkidshealthy.com. If an infant is full-term but is small (SGA--Small for Gestational Age), this is something his pediatrician will want to keep an eye on. If the child hasn't caught up by the time he is two or three years old, he may be a candidate for hormone treatment.

Dwarfism

• If a child is born with dwarfism, she is going to be significantly shorter than her peers. This is a genetic disorder and generally occurs because of a genetic mutation in the mother's egg or the father's sperm, but it is not known why this occurs.

Turner Syndrome

• Turner Syndrome occurs only in females. It is a genetic condition and results in short stature as well as other abnormalities including a partially or completely missing sex chromosome and reproductive difficulties.

Other Conditions That Stunt Growth

• Other conditions that can lead to short stature in children, according to Emedicinehealth.com include Down Syndrome, hypothyroidism,and the genetic disease SHOX gene mutation.

Malnutrition

• Malnutrition can cause short stature in children. If a child isn't getting enough calories or the necessary vitamins and minerals into his system, he will not grow properly. A deficiency, in particular, of Vitamin C can stunt growth.