disorders. Chronic malnutrition
retards growth and is the easiest
disorder to prevent. Emotional
deprivation or abuse can sow
growth. Normal growth usually
resumes when the child's envi-
ronment changes.
• Disease. Children with res-
piratory, liver, kidney or con-
genital heart disease, cystic
fibrosis or diabetes may be prone
to growth retardation.
• Intrauterine factors. For rea-
sons that often are unknown,
some babies fail to grow in the
womb. Such an infant will be
small at birth, most likely weigh-
ing fewer than 5 pounds. The
child usally never catches up in
size. Sometimes drugs taken by
a mother during pregnancy af-
fect the size of her baby.
• Chromosomal factors. Turn-
er's syndrome is a frequent
cause of growth failure in girls.
These girls are very short, sel-
dom reaching 5 feet tall, and
they fail to develop sexually.
This is a result of a misshapen
or missing X chromosome in
body cells.
• Drugs. Ingestion of some
medications, like steroids, can af-
fect growth.
Treatment depends on the
disorder. Some, such as thyroid
and pituitary abnormalities, can
be treated with growth hor-
mones.
Should growth hormones be
given to normally developing,
short-stature children, simply to
boost adult height?

Statistics take into
account children's
sporadic eating
patterns.

Dr. Khardori says it is un-
known whether synthetic hor-
mones truly increase adult
height, or simply speed growth
until the predestined adult
height is reached.
"We don't know what the ef-
fects of growth hormone are on
normal people. It may actually
be detrimental. In absence of an
answer, we don't recommend
therapy to someone who doesn't
need it."
Not surprisingly, children
grow most rapidly during their
first year, when they add 9 to 11
inches. From 12 to 24 months,
they grow 4 to 5 inches. Another
3 to 4 inches are added from 24
to 36 months. From 36 months
to puberty, children spurt from
2 to 2.5 inches each year.
A major growth spurt occurs
during puberty, an event that of-
ten requires incredulous parents
of suddenly full-sized youngsters
to purchase new wardrobes of
longer-legged jeans and bigger
shoes.
SIZE page 78

This
Mother's Day
consider a gift
for the
heart.

To help you celebrate a healthy
Mother's Day, the Sinai Family Medical
Center in Oak Park is offering a free
cholesterol and blood pressure screening
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., on May 12, 1995.
No appointments are necessary.

Our Family Practitioners are dedicated
to keeping you and your family healthy.
From birth through adolescence, adult-
hood and geriatric care, a Family
Practitioner can provide most of your
family's medical care.

Please join us on May 12 as we celebrate
Mother's Day! Meet the doctor, clinical
nurse practitioner and our friendly
staff. We look forward to seeing you.

OfEtliMftfahititk

SINAI FAMILY MEDICAL CENTER

Parkwoods Plaza
13361 West Ten Mile Road

(on the southeast corner of Ten Mile/I-696
service drive and Coolidge Road)

Oak Park
(810) 547-0700

Light refreshments will be available.

inai

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