A Growing Problem?

New Endocrinologist Assists Families with Youth Growing Patterns

“My daughter has complained lately that she is shorter than most of her classmates. For some reason, she seems to be lagging behind in height.”

This is a commonly heard statement in the office of Cong Ning, M.D. Dr. Ning is a pediatric endocrinologist, a physician specialized in caring for children with hormonal disorders.

“Some children grow at a slower rate for their age. However, this could be a sign of a growth disorder,” says Dr. Ning.

If your child has an inconsistent growth pattern, delayed puberty, disproportionately short stature or is overweight for height, this could indicate an endocrine or Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD).

How do you know if your child is growing on average?

A child with GHD does not produce enough growth hormone, and growth begins to slow after a while. GHD can be caused by damage in the pituitary gland or a specialized part of the brain that controls the pituitary. Although GHD is uncommon, it may occur at any time from infancy through childhood. A common sign of GHD is a marked slowing of growth (usually less than 2 inches a year). Without treatment, your child may be very short for his or her age.

Other characteristics of GHD?

Your child may be overweight for height, or have problems with low sugars or low energy. They may also have delayed dentition.

Tests to detect a growth disorder vary depending on the findings at each stage of evaluation. A child who’s healthy and growing at a normal rate may just require observation throughout childhood, but a child who has stopped growing or is growing slower than expected may often need additional testing.

Growth Hormone Deficiency can be treated with hormone replacement, which has proven to be effective. If diagnosed and treated early, children with GHD are able to grow to a genetically appropriate height.

To contact Dr. Ning, please call 301-279-6448.