ABSTRACT
La talla baja es un motivo de consulta cada vez más frecuente que el pediatra debe pesquisar. La evaluación debe incluir una historia clínica completa, examen físico con una correcta evaluación auxológica y un seguimiento adecuado de la velocidad de crecimiento. De esta forma, los exámenes complementarios irán orientados a confirmar una sospecha diagnóstica. En países desarrollados la mayoría de los pacientes que consulta por talla baja corresponderá a retraso constitucional del crecimiento o a una talla baja familiar, sin embargo, en alrededor de un 5% de los casos estaremos frente a patología como por ejemplo desnutrición, malabsorción, enfermedades sistémicas y sus tratamientos, déficit de hormona de crecimiento y enfermedades genéticas entre otras. El enfoque terapéutico, debe estar siempre orientado a la causa. Existen terapias que pueden mejorar la estatura final pero tienen indicaciones precisas y no están exentas de complicaciones. Un estilo de vida saludable y un ambiente psicosocial favorable, permitirán que el niño desarrolle al máximo su potencial genético.
Short stature is a complaint of increasing frequency in pediatrics. Given the diverse etiology of growth failure, the pediatrician must be able to make a correct assessment of the growth and development of children, including a complete medical history, physical examination and a proper auxological assessment with a carefully monitoring of their growth rate. This way, any further examination shall be designed to confirm a diagnostic suspicion. Although most patients will have an idiopathic short stature, in about 5% of cases we will find pathology. The therapeutic approach should always be oriented to the cause. There are therapies that can improve the final height but have precise indications and are not exempt from complications. A healthy lifestyle and a positive psychosocial environment, allow the child to develop his full genetic potential.
ABSTRACT
Background: A secular trend towards a younger age of puberty onset has been reported in Chilean girls. Aim: To evaluate the age of onset of puberty and prevalence of early puberty in Chilean boys. Material and Methods: A pediatric endocrinologist examined 319 children attending schools in central Santiago. Pubertal development was assessed by testicular volume (TV) and genital inspection (GI) using Tanner graduation. Precocious and early puberty development was diagnosed if TV ≥ 4 ml or GI > stage 2 occurred in boys younger than 9 years and at 9-10 years of age, respectively. Results: Pubertal onset occurred at 10.2 ± 1.5 years according to TV and at 11.1 ± 1.6 years according to GI (p < 0.01). Before the age of nine, 15.2% of children had a VT ≥ 4 ml, 3% had genital changes in GI and only 3% had both changes simultaneously. Early puberty was observed in 23.8% of children according to TV and 9.5% according to GI. However, no child of less than 11 years old had a TV ≥ 4 ml, genital changes and pubic hair simultaneously. Late pubertal stages occurred at the same age according to both criteria used. Body mass index z score was not associated with the age of pubertal onset. Conclusions: Testicular enlargement occurs one year earlier than changes in genitalia according to inspection. Testicular growth, but not late stages of puberty, are occurring one year earlier than previously reported in Chile 10 years ago.