Differential diagnosis of short stature and poor growth velocity

Stature reflects the interaction between the genetic background of an individual and a variety of prenatal and postnatal influences including nutrition, hormones, general health, and psychological factors. Stature is a continuum ranging from tall to short individuals, the majority of those whose height is less than the 3rd centile will be representative of this normal continuum. Short individuals with a recognizable disorder are found with increasing frequency at the extremes of the population variation. The diagnostic approach to short stature will be discussed, with emphasis on the epidemiology of short stature and poor growth, the diagnoses that need to be considered, and their aetiology.