A13-month-old child is noted to be at the 25th percentile for weight, the 10th percentile for height, and less than the 5th percentile for head circumference. she was born at term. she was noted to have a small head at birth, to be developmentally delayed throughout her life, and to have required cataract surgery shortly after birth. she currently takes phenobarbital for seizures. which of the following would most likely explain the child’s small size?
a. chromosomal abnormality
b. protein-caloriemalnutrition
c. normal ex-premie infant growth
d. malabsorption secondary to short gut syndrome
e. congenital hypothyroidism