Growth disorders in adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Growth is one of the fundamental processes of adolescent development. Careful history and examination, and relevant tar-geted investigations, can streamline the referral process, highlighting the important role of primary healthcare clinicians.

OBJECTIVE: This article will provide a guide for clinicians to categorise growth patterns in adolescents, and recognise patients who may have a growth disorder. It will assist clinicians in considering appropriate investigations, and provide guidance for when to refer the adolescent to appropriate paediatric specialists.

DISCUSSION: Causes of tall and short stature can often be distinguished on history, physical examination, and accurate pubertal staging. The height of the adolescent should always be considered in the context of their genetic potential. Physiological variants re-main the most common reason for short stature, but awareness of the features of pathological causes is critical. One of the most common presentations is maturational delay in males, and an approach to this issue is discussed.