Which two causes are most commonly associated with short stature?

Short stature in children can stem from various causes, but the most commonly associated are familial factors and constitutional delay of growth. Familial short stature is a hereditary tendency among family members to be shorter than average, and it often does not indicate any underlying health problems. Children with familial short stature typically follow a normal growth pattern according to their genetic predisposition.

Constitutional delay of growth is another significant cause, where children appear to be shorter than their peers but eventually reach a normal height as they mature. This condition is often accompanied by a delay in bone age and is distinguished from other causes of short stature because these children usually have a family history of late growth spurts or final height expectations.

Other options, while they can contribute to short stature, do not capture the most common causes as effectively as the combination of familial influence and constitutional growth delay. For example, genetic disorders and chronic illnesses can lead to short stature, but these are less common in the general population compared to the familial and constitutional delays observed in many children. Hormonal deficiencies and metabolic disorders are also causes but are less frequently encountered in the general pediatric population, making them less likely to be found in typical assessments of short stature. Thus, the focus on familial factors and constitutional delays provides a