Growth delay can occur in children, but is rarely a sign of a serious underlying problem. From the age of two onwards children tend to grow at a fairly steady rate of around five to seven centimetres a year. This changes at puberty when there will be some growth spurts.
Growth delay often runs in the family where it is experienced by a parent or sibling. However, just because a child is small doesn't necessarily mean that they have a disorder. Only a small proportion of children whose growth is delayed will have an underlying growth condition. Any child on chronic treatment for an underlying disease is also more likely to experience growth delay. However, once the underlying condition is brought under control normal growth should resume.
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