Growth screening in children aged 3-5 years: a useful tool for public health programs in community pediatrics

Background: About 90% of children grow up normally and attain a final height within their genetic target. In children with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), up to 10% will not catch up spontaneously. Turner syndrome is often diagnosed late, and a number of growth-stunted children go undiagnosed and untreated. Objectives: Our primary aim was to evaluate the prevalence of stunted growth in preschool-aged children. Our secondary aim was to evaluate growth patterns in children belonging to four ethnic groups in Dreux district, France. Methods: Body weight, height and body mass index (BMI) were collected for children aged 3-5 years during systematic community visits. Birth variables, family history of short stature, maternal smoking, ethnic origin, etc. were also recorded. Pubertal status was staged as per Tanner's method. Parents were instructed to attend the hospital growth clinics if their child's height was <-2.0 standard deviation score (SDS). Results: Five hundred ninety-three children were screened (301 boys, 289 girls). The mean age was 4.33 +/- 0.76 standard deviation (SD) years, and 48% were Caucasians, 13.7% were North Africans, 2.5% were Black Africans, 0.8% were Asians, 1.5% included others and the ethnicity was not specified in 33.5% of the cases. 91.5% of children were term-born and 8.5% were preterm. 84.2% of children were appropriate for gestational age (AGA) and 9.4% were small for gestational age (SGA). At 5 years of age, 22.2% of macrosomic North African children were overweight. Catch-up growth was complete in 98% children, 11/540 were short statured, 8/11 attended our growth clinics (seven short statured and one micropenis) and three were started on recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH). Conclusions: Growth screening programs are important and useful tools for public health. There is a need for clear objectives, proper training and automated data collection tools, along with easy access to growth specialists.