What To Do When Children Are Deficient In Growth Hormones?
A deficiency in growth hormones is rare in children.
The cause is insufficient production of hormones. The pituitary gland is responsible for this. The lack of growth hormones can be the result of an injury to the brain. In addition, a tumor in this brain region can be the cause. Or the child was exposed to rays.
Certain diseases also trigger a disruption in growth. However, this is not inheritable .
Finding a clear cause is difficult. In some children, birth is causative. Other hereditary disorders can also be associated with it. It can be a harelip or the jaws of a wolf.
A deficiency in this hormone can also be related to disturbances in the production of other hormones. Hormones are so important because they control important processes in the body. So does growth.
Constant routine medical examinations are extremely important. They are the best way to spot a disorder. The simple rule here is: the earlier the better.
Parents should pay close attention to the first signs of this deficiency. In general, the earlier the diagnosis is made, the more successful the treatment.
Growth Hormone Deficiency – Signs
A clear sign of the disorder is the small body size.
Children with GHD are smaller than others in the same age group. The slow growth also affects the shape of the face. The limbs are also affected. All in all, it makes the body look squat.
The muscles in affected people are often very weak. In addition, the penis is usually very small in men.
A low level of glucose in the blood delays the onset of puberty.
Furthermore, the child’s self-esteem has to be taken very seriously. Children who are physically different from others can suffer greatly as a result.
The diagnosis
The child is measured regularly by the doctor. The values are also compared.
If there is any suspicion, an X-ray is usually taken first. This allows the bone age to be determined. You can also see how fast the bones are growing.
A blood test is used to check insulin and similar growth factors.
One way to diagnose is by stimulating the pituitary gland. Medicines are given that stimulate the production of the hormones.
A specialist then evaluates the body’s reaction.
Another analysis determines the amount of the neurohormone GnRH.
A clinical treatment
If there is a lack of hormones, medication can help. More precisely, you then inject artificial hormones.
Of course, a specialist is responsible for this. He determines the dosage. He also decides how often and what exactly is injected. It differs from child to child. The same goes for the duration of the treatment. Sometimes it lasts for years.
Children with GHD grow less than 2 inches a year. With the right treatment, this can be increased to over 25 centimeters.
However, side effects can also occur. These vary in intensity.
Some of them are:
- The formation of breast tissue in men
- Scoliosis
- Pain in muscles and joints
- Inflammation in the limbs
- a headache
- Mild hyperthyroidism
Serious side effects are possible, but rare. These include headaches that make it difficult to see. The pancreas can also become inflamed. In some cases there are problems with the hip. This, in turn, can of course be detrimental, for example when doing sports.
The key to successful therapy is an early diagnosis. Because then children can often reach a normal size.
