Medical specialists in Taiwan emphasise the importance of early detection and monitoring of children born small for gestational age, highlighting potential impacts on height and development if left unaddressed amid declining birth rates.
Taiwanese medical specialists are urging parents to pay closer attention to children born small for gestational age, warning that delayed growth can affect height, head size and later development if it is not tracked early. The Taiwan Neonatology Society said on Tuesday that children who remain unusually short, or who have a smaller-than-expected head circumference, should be assessed by a paediatrician before puberty closes the window for treatment.
Yang Sheng-nan, the society’s president, said children’s growth should be seen as a continuous process, with weight, length, head circumference, diet, activity and developmental progress all offering clues to health. He also noted that Taiwan’s birth rate remains extremely low, making careful monitoring of every child’s development even more important.
Yang Chia-feng, a paediatric genetic endocrinologist at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, said small for gestational age, or SGA, describes babies whose birth size falls in the lowest 10% for their gestational age. She said many parents become anxious after such a diagnosis, but added that what matters most is whether a child continues to follow their own growth pattern. In her view, boys who are still growing poorly by the age of 16 and girls by 14 should be seen by a specialist, especially if they gain less than 5cm in a year.
The warning comes against a broader backdrop of concern about children’s growth in Taiwan. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s Nutrition and Health Survey, most Taiwanese adults have become slightly taller in recent years, with average heights rising to 169.3cm for men and 157.0cm for women. But the same data showed a small decline among 18-year-old boys, while the average height of 18-year-old girls rose to 161.2cm.
Doctors also stressed that the care of SGA children often spans hospitals, clinics and preventive health checks, which can make follow-up inconsistent if information is not shared clearly between providers. Lin Hsiang-yu, a paediatrician at China Medical University Children’s Hospital, said the system already has services at different stages, but important details can still fall through the cracks. Shen Ching-fen, head of the Health Promotion Administration, said the growth chart in a child’s health handbook is not just for doctors, but a practical tool for parents to spot problems early and seek timely referral.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
