Growth assessment is crucial in the evaluation of all children. The growth
of children with chronic conditions is often inadequately assessed by subsp
ecialty services because of the following beliefs: (1) short stature is sec
ondary to the disorder and therefore the cause is known, (2) poor growth is
caused by a syndrome and is untreatable, and (3) growth is assessed adequa
tely by the children's primary care providers. In reality, growth failure i
n children with chronic conditions may be caused by other factors and may b
e treatable. In addition, growth is often inadequately assessed by primary
health care providers. Growth abnormalities should never be ignored or mini
mized in populations of children having other significant health care probl
ems. Copyright (C) 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.