How often does your child need a new size of clothes? While it may seem like an everyday detail, changes in clothing size can be one of the simple observations that prompt parents to take a closer look at how their child is growing over time.
Merck, a leading science and technology company, is encouraging parents across the UAE to pay closer attention to their children’s growth and to speak with a healthcare professional if they have concerns.
Growth patterns can change gradually, making potential concerns easy to overlook or attribute to normal differences between children. Looking at how a child is growing over time, rather than focusing on a single measurement or comparing them with other children, can help parents recognise when a conversation with a healthcare professional may be appropriate.
One condition associated with impaired growth is growth hormone deficiency (GHD), a rare condition in which the body does not produce enough growth hormone, which plays an important role in normal childhood growth and development.
Ahmed Fadl, General Manager – UAE & Gulf, Merck said: “Every child grows at their own pace, but when parents notice something that seems different about their child’s growth, it is important to feel confident asking questions. Raising a concern with a healthcare professional can be a simple first step towards understanding whether further assessment is needed.”
Schools and school healthcare teams can also contribute to recognising potential concerns as part of their broader role in supporting children’s health and wellbeing. Parents, teachers and healthcare professionals each have a role to play in ensuring that persistent concerns about a child’s growth are not overlooked.
“At GEMS, we monitor children’s growth as part of our approach to supporting their health and wellbeing, and our clinicians refer children for specialist assessment when they identify significant concerns. Parents also have an important role to play by noticing how their child is growing over time. If they have concerns, speaking with a paediatrician can help determine whether further assessment is needed,” said Dr. Mirrah Agha-Kandil, Group Medical Director, GEMS Education.
“It is a common misconception that a child who is shorter than their peers will simply catch up in growth later. While height and growth rates can naturally vary between children, persistent concerns about a child’s growth should always be discussed with a healthcare professional. Growth assessment relies on tracking multiple measurements over time, rather than a single, isolated height measurement. Early diagnosis can also help identify any underlying medical cause that may require further investigation and assessment,” said Dr. Elham Alamiri, Consultant Paediatric Endocrinologist.
Growth hormone deficiency is rare, with global estimates suggesting it affects approximately 1 in 4,000–10,000 children1. Early signs can be subtle and may include slower growth over time, making awareness of a child’s growth pattern important. If left undiagnosed and untreated, GHD may affect normal physical growth and bone development and may have wider effects on a child’s health and wellbeing.
Research also shows that girls with growth hormone deficiency are often diagnosed later than boys2, reinforcing the importance of ensuring all children receive timely assessment when growth concerns arise.
- Stanley T. Diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency in childhood. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2012 Feb;19(1):47-52.
doi: 10.1097/MED.0b013e32834ec952. PMID: 22157400; PMCID: PMC3279941. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3279941/ - https://www.clinicaltrialsarena.com/analyst-comment/growth-hormone-deficiency-diagnosis-boys/
While clothing size is not a medical measure of growth, everyday observations can sometimes prompt parents to take notice. A child who has not needed larger clothes for an unusually long period, for example, may simply be growing at their own pace — or it may be a reason to ask a healthcare professional whether their growth pattern should be assessed.
For parents, the message is simple: if you have concerns about how your child is growing, talk to a paediatrician. A healthcare professional can review a child’s growth history, development and other relevant factors and determine whether further assessment is appropriate.
About Merck
Merck, a leading science and technology company, operates across life science, healthcare and electronics. More than 62,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people’s lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From providing products and services that accelerate drug development and manufacturing as well as discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices – the company is everywhere.
Scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to Merck’s technological and scientific advances. This is how Merck has thrived since its founding in 1668. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. Merck holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck operate as MilliporeSigma in life science, EMD Serono in healthcare, and EMD Electronics in electronics.
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