No. Short stature can be a sign of various diseases as we have discussed earlier. Most of these children can be managed without the use of growth hormone. For example, a slowly growing kid with chronic bronchial asthma can achieve good growth when asthma is controlled. Many children have constitutional delay in growth and puberty which may improve spontaneously or with minimum medicines.
Some children can have normal growth hormone levels but can have improved heights with the use of growth hormone. These include:
A) Turner syndrome
B) Idiopathic Short stature
C) Small for Gestational Age who fail to have catch up growth
D) Prader Willi Syndrome
E) Chronic Kidney Disease
F) SHOX gene deficiency
So, do not be surprised when your endocrinologist may discuss growth hormone therapies with you even if your kid has normal growth hormone levels
Author
Dr Mathew John