RE: Height/weight question

October 27, 2009

For Tristen, She was low on the growth charts until she was started on subq and

then she started growing like a weed. I think between her being sick all the

time, not eating and all the meds she was on...she just wasn't growing. Now

that she's more healthy than sick...she eats a lot more!

le

________________________________

From: stacy171 <stacy171@...>

Sent: Tue, October 27, 2009 10:08:11 AM

Subject: Height/weight question

My 5yo with low IgG and IgM used to be in the 90th percentile for height and

weight until about 1 1/2 years ago. He's starting to drop off in both height

and weight. He's now in the 30th percentile for both. Is that something I

should be concerned about? He does have bowel issues so I'm wondering if it's a

malabsorption issue. We're still working on a diagnosis, so pardon my

questions!

October 27, 2009

For Tristen, She was low on the growth charts until she was started on subq and

then she started growing like a weed. I think between her being sick all the

time, not eating and all the meds she was on...she just wasn't growing. Now

that she's more healthy than sick...she eats a lot more!

le

________________________________

From: stacy171 <stacy171@...>

Sent: Tue, October 27, 2009 10:08:11 AM

Subject: Height/weight question

My 5yo with low IgG and IgM used to be in the 90th percentile for height and

weight until about 1 1/2 years ago. He's starting to drop off in both height

and weight. He's now in the 30th percentile for both. Is that something I

should be concerned about? He does have bowel issues so I'm wondering if it's a

malabsorption issue. We're still working on a diagnosis, so pardon my

questions!

October 27, 2009

I would. You might ask if he can have a growth plate xray done. It's where they

take an xray of his hand and wrist and make sure that he's where he should be

with his growth plates. It's not unheard of for PID patients to need growth

hormone.

Ursula Holleman

mom to (16) and Macey (14)

www.caringbridge.org/visit/maceyholleman

From: stacy171@...

Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:08:11 +0000

Subject: Height/weight question

My 5yo with low IgG and IgM used to be in the 90th percentile for height and

weight until about 1 1/2 years ago. He's starting to drop off in both height and

weight. He's now in the 30th percentile for both. Is that something I should be

concerned about? He does have bowel issues so I'm wondering if it's a

malabsorption issue. We're still working on a diagnosis, so pardon my questions!

October 27, 2009

Personnally I wouldn't worry about where on the growth chart your child is as

long as they are in good health and properly proportioned. These charts are

based on an assemblage of data across the popultaion and just because a child

may be at the lower end of the spectrum does not mean there is a problem as

there have to be highs and lows...that's what makes it an average. I'm not

trying to knock your concern as with a health challenged child everything is a

concern...just suggesting for discussion that the emphasis that pediatricians

place on " getting your child higher up in the curve " seems to be frightening

parents when there may be nothing wrong with the child other than god just

planned for them to be at the small end of the growth charts. I saw this in my

own wife when for years she was concerned that my son wasn't putting on much

weight. He was not starving or stick-like and he was eating well, but until he

put on 5 inches and 35# in the last year, she was always afraid he was a

" failure to thrive " case because he was so low on the charts.

Jon

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October 28, 2009

IME, if a kid is always smallish, and stays on that curve, then they probably

are just set up to be smallish. If a kid is on a higher curve and suddenly drops

and stays dropped, there is usually a problem. I have a daughter with CVID and

asthma, and when she was sicker, she has had so much trouble gaining and

maintaining a decent weight. Now she is better, her troughs are higher and lung

function better, she is gaining and getting taller. My youngest with CVID and

asthma IS failure to thrive. He is 7 and a half, just growing out of toddler

size clothes and is constitutionally bone growth delayed, with a delay of about

two yrs, including his teeth, which is currently blamed on his chronic

illness......he burns so many calories to beat bacteria all the time, he just

doesnt have any left over to put towards growing. He is on a high calorie diet

but really struggles to gain and keep that weight on.

valarie

>

> Personnally I wouldn't worry about where on the growth chart your child is as