The most common etiology of short stature is

Short Stature Defined as height below the third centile or more than 2 standard deviations below the median height for age and gender according to the population standard. Children whose statures more than 3 SD below the population mean for age and gender are more likely to be suffering from pathological short stature as compared to those with stature between -2 and -3SD, who are more likely to be affected by familial or constitutional short stature. CAUSES:- The most common cause is constitutional. Familial Pathological causes include: Undernutrition Chronic systemic illness Cerebral palsy Congenital heart disease Cystic fibrosis, asthma Malabsorption Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome Endocrine causes include:  Psychosocial dwarfism. Children born small for gestational age. Skeletal dysplasia; achondroplasia, rickets. Genetic syndrome; Turner, Down syndrome.