Final answer:
Questionable growth in a child may be indicated by a sudden change in their previously steady growth pattern, which can be a worrying sign and requires further investigation to determine underlying causes.
Step-by-step explanation:
An indication of questionable growth in a child might be d. Showing a sudden increase or decrease in previously steady growth pattern.
This could be an early sign of a health issue or environmental factor affecting the child's development.
Whereas parents and child having short stature (option a), height and weight percentiles that are similar (option b), and showing steady patterns of growth (option c) may all be considered normal, depending on the individual circumstances.
For instance, if both parents are of short stature, it's more likely for their child to also be shorter due to genetics.
If height and weight percentiles are similar and within a healthy range, this suggests that the child is proportionately growing according to expectations.
However, stunting growth is a deficit diagnosed in children who are at least two standard deviations below the median height for their age in a reference population.
This could be rooted in undernourishment or other health issues. On the flip side, a sudden growth spurt in weight can precede obesity concerns, contributing to conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease later in life.