Clinical assessment and early intervention for deviations in children's growth and development

Chinese adults' and children's heights have grown over two decades, but many parents remain unaware of the main factors affecting their children's height.

This study analyzed clinical and early pharmacological interventions for preventing and treating growth disorders and promoting normal growth in children with deviations.

This study involves a non-randomized intervention. A retrospective study of 120 children examined at our hospital from March 2023 to February 2025 were divided into four groups based on height and development: short stature group (SS, n=28), less short stature group (LSS, n=32), early development group (ED, n=41) and central precocious puberty group (CPP, n=19). The SS group and LSS group received oral lysine, inositol, vitamin B12 solution + γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and the ED group and CPP group received oral Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan and all children were given health guidance. Clinically relevant information, such as baseline information, height growth values, and growth factor levels before and after treatment, was collected and compared among the four groups of children, and pre-treatment factors affecting children's height growth outcomes were also analyzed.

Before treatment, the four children's groups differed significantly (P < 0.05). After 3 and 6 months, all children's heights increased, with the fastest growth in the LSS group. Logistic regression showed sex and age before treatment were key factors affecting height. ROC curves revealed AUCs for sex, age and the model of 0.599(95% CI: 0.497-0.701), 0.774(95%CI: 0.686-0.861) and 0.818 (95% CI: 0.735-0.900).

Clinical analysis and early intervention for children with growth deviations detected during school physical exams can restore normal growth, slow early bone age advancement, improve height outcomes and prevent or treat growth disorders.