Written by Editorial Team
The efficiency of the endocrine system influences the health of both child and an adult. But, the inefficiency of endocrine system bought a long-term effect on children when compared to the problems that an endocrine gland can cause in an adult. One of the conditions that affect the children due to the improper working of the endocrine gland is growth hormone deficiency.
At the base of the brain, there is a pea-sized gland called pituitary gland. The anterior and the posterior part of the pituitary gland makes and stores many different hormones. One of the important hormones produced by the pituitary gland is growth hormones (GH). The growth hormone is released into the blood stream and is carried all over the body and influence with several complicated body functions. One of the most important functions associated with the influence of GH among children is growth.
When the growth hormone produced by the pituitary gland is insufficient to meet the requirement, the growth of the child will get affected badly.
The growth hormone deficiency (GHD) occurs when the pituitary gland fails to produce enough growth hormone. As a result, the speed of growth takes place considerably at a lower pace and usually, the final height is affected.
The childhood-onset GHD is differentiated into three subdivisions:
Signs and symptoms of GHD among the children will vary with the severity and the age of the child. Mostly, the slow growth may not be noticeable until the child turns 2 or 3 years old. The intelligence of the child suffering from GHD usually will remain unaffected. Some of the signs exhibited by the child having GHD includes:
Growth hormone deficiency is reported in one in every 7000 babies. This condition is also may be the indications of other health conditions like Turner’s syndrome. This will increase the chances of GHD among children to one in every 3800 births. Some pertinent causes are:
Your pediatrician considers the chances of GHD when your child does not meet their height and weight milestones and exhibit some of the above symptoms.
Daily shots of growth hormones are given into the fatty tissue of the child such as buttocks. This is a long-term treatment often lasting till the child reach puberty. However, during this period, the child needs to regularly visit the doctor and monitor the hormone levels in the blood. The change in the dosage of medicine if needed depends on this blood test on regular basis.
Generally, injections are given in the evening to synchronize with the body’s natural cycle of GH production.
Growth hormone therapy is relatively safe when weighed against its efficiency. Although serious side effects are rare, some minor side effects are commonly seen due to the prolonged period of injecting the growth hormone such as:
The sooner the condition is treated, the chances of that a child to grow to a near-normal adult height increases. So never hesitate to start the treatment once your child is diagnosed with GHD.
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