Background/aims: Growth monitoring is almost universally performed, but few data are available on which referral criteria and diagnostic work-up are used worldwide for children with short stature.
Methods: A short questionnaire, containing questions on auxological screening and on diagnostic criteria for short stature, was sent to all members of the European Society of Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) and to several pediatric endocrinologists outside Europe.
Results: Responses were received from 36 countries. In 27 (75%) a child health care program existed and in 14 (39%) there was a protocol for referral of children with growth retardation. Height for age was mostly used as a referral criterion. Sixteen countries (45%) reported having a guideline in secondary health care for diagnostic work-up. Although all countries agreed on having biochemical, radiological and/or genetic tests in the diagnostic work-up, there was a wide variety of recommended tests.
Conclusions: There is little consensus on referral criteria and diagnostic work-up of children with short stature among industrialized countries. There is a need to establish evidence-based guidelines.