A number of medical conditions, including certain genetic syndromes, skeletal disorders, and metabolic diseases, can result in short stature at birth.
Some congenital conditions, such as thyroid hormone deficiency, growth hormone deficiency, diabetes, Turner syndrome, and kidney disease, may respond to hormone therapy, allowing affected children to attain more normal height.
Maternal health and proper nutrition during pregnancy also play an important role in determining the future development of the child. Children born prematurely or with low birth weight who fail to gain height and weight by age three or four may benefit from growth hormone therapy. Taking these factors into account can help doctors estimate a child’s expected adult height after birth.