Constitutional Growth Delay Treatment & Management

  • Author: Pamela A Clark, MD; Chief Editor: Stephen Kemp, MD, PhD   more...
 
Updated: Aug 19, 2011
 

Medical Care

Medical care in constitutional growth delay (CGD) is aimed at obtaining several careful growth measurements at frequent intervals, often every 6 months. These measurements are used to calculate linear height velocities and establish a trajectory on the growth curve. Medical treatment of this variation of normal growth is not necessary but may be initiated in adolescents experiencing psychosocial distress (see Medication).

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Diet

No special dietary requirements are necessary, although a balanced diet with adequate calories and calcium intake is recommended to support normal growth and bone development.

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Activity

No restrictions on activity are necessary. However, adolescents with constitutional growth delay who participate in contact sports must realize their limitations in competition with larger, stronger peers. Adolescents who wish to participate in weight lifting or resistance-training activities should use lower weights with greater repetitions to avoid undue stress on immature growth plates.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Pamela A Clark, MD  Consulting Staff, McLeod Physician Associates; Consulting Staff, McLeod Pediatric Subspecialists

Pamela A Clark, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, and Pediatric Endocrine Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Arlan L Rosenbloom, MD  Adjunct Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics, University of Florida College of Medicine; Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics; Fellow of the American College of Epidemiology

Arlan L Rosenbloom, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Epidemiology, American Pediatric Society, Endocrine Society, Florida Pediatric Society, Pediatric Endocrine Society, and Society for Pediatric Research

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Mary L Windle, PharmD  Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Barry B Bercu, MD  Professor, Departments of Pediatrics, Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, All Children's Hospital

Barry B Bercu, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American Federation for Clinical Research, American Medical Association, American Pediatric Society, Association of Clinical Scientists, Endocrine Society, Florida Medical Association, Pediatric Endocrine Society, Pituitary Society, Society for Pediatric Research, Society for the Study of Reproduction, and Southern Society for Pediatric Research

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Merrily P M Poth, MD  Professor, Department of Pediatrics and Neuroscience, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Merrily P M Poth, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, Endocrine Society, and Pediatric Endocrine Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Stephen Kemp, MD, PhD  Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Endocrinology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine, Arkansas Children's Hospital

Stephen Kemp, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American Pediatric Society, Endocrine Society, Phi Beta Kappa, Southern Medical Association, and Southern Society for Pediatric Research

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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  17. Yap F, Hogler W, Briody J, et al. The skeletal phenotype of men with previous constitutional delay of puberty. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Sep 2004;89(9):4306-11. [Medline]. [Full Text].

  18. Zachmann M, Studer S, Prader A. Short-term testosterone treatment at bone age of 12 to 13 years does not reduce adult height in boys with constitutional delay of growth and adolescence. Helv Paediatr Acta. Jun 1987;42(1):21-8. [Medline].

 
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Comparison of the growth patterns between idiopathic short stature and constitutional growth delay.
 
 
 
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