According to the Human Growth Hormone Foundation, 10,000-15,000 children in the U.S. have a deficiency of human growth hormone. A deficiency may be indicated when a child's rate of growth appears to be slower than average. There are many reasons why a child may not grow at the proper rate; however, human growth deficiency is one reason why this might occur.
What is Human Growth Hormone?
This hormone is a protein that is manufactured by the pituitary gland and is necessary for a child's growth. A deficiency occurs when either the hormone is missing or under-produced. The job of human growth hormone is to stimulate body tissue growth.
What Causes a Deficiency of Human Growth Hormone?
The deficiency may be present at birth (congenital) or may be the result of a head injury, illness such as encephalitis or meningitis, or a brain tumor. A congenital deficiency is often the result of a abnormally formed or damaged pituitary gland.
Diagnosis of a Deficiency of Human Growth Hormone
Generally, a child with human growth hormone deficiency is small when compared to peers. Also, his face may seem immature. Either the child's parent, doctor, or both may notice that the child may not be growing at the same rate as other children. A doctor, who plots the child's growth on a growth chart, can see if the growth rate has either stalled or decreased over time.
Further Tests to Evaluate a Deficiency of Human Growth Hormone
Early detection is necessary for treatment to be the most effective. If a problem is detected, the child should be referred to a pediatric endocrinologist for further evaluation. Various blood tests over a period of time are used to determine if hormone levels are deficient.
Treatment of a Deficiency of Human Growth
Typically, a deficiency of human growth hormone is treated by giving the child daily injections of synthetic human growth hormone. These injections usually cause a noticeable increase in growth rate in about 3-4 months. Treatment may last for several years.
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