Growth hormone disorder in children: Symptoms, why early treatment is crucial

New Delhi: Growth hormone (GH), a type of protein, normally produced by the pituitary gland is situated in the brain.

GH is needed for normal growth and development in children. GH also helps in maintaining appropriate balance of glucose, fat and cholesterol levels in blood and helps in building and maintaining muscles, bones and decreases fat mass that are required for normal healthy lifestyle.

Symptoms

Talking about the symptoms of GHD, Dr IPS Kochar, Senior Pediatric and Adolescent Endocrinologist & Diabetologist, stated that “any decrease or a complete lack of production of GH is termed as growth hormone deficiency (GHD). GHD in children usually manifests as short stature and decreased growth rate in comparison to other children of same age and gender. Further children may appear overweight to obese, with deranged blood glucose, and cholesterol levels. Decreased school performance, behaviour problems, and reduced social competency were observed in children who were short.”

A child’s growth pattern is an important part of determining normal growth. The child may grow normally until he or she is about 2 or 3 years old; then, signs of growth delay begins to show.

Other symptoms may include - an immature face, he/she may look younger than his/her peers; and absent or delayed sexual development,no change in size of shoe over last 2 years,shortest in class .

GHD children may have a prominent skull, and are often overweight for their age.

In severe GH deficiency in children who are affected since birth there might be a delay in achieving milestones such as standing, walking, and jumping etc.

Globally, the number of new children affected with GHD every year is estimated to range between 1 in 3500 to 10,000 live births.

Diagnosis and treatment

As short height or delay in height gain is the main manifestation of GHD, it is very critical and important to observe child’s growth pattern using a growth chart for early detection of delay in growth.

Growth chart is a graph that can be used to plot vital measurements such as child’s height and weight from birth.

On periodic assessments (once in 6 months or a year), it is possible to detect the child’s growth pattern and compare it to the growth pattern of the normal children of same age and gender.

GHD or similar other growth disorders should be suspected in any child (≥4 years of age) who grows less than 4-5 cms every year.

Dr Kochar shared “GHD is treatable. Once GHD is diagnosed and confirmed, treatment with growth hormone can be initiated.

Growth hormone therapy is recommended as a subcutaneous injection, either daily or several times per week, but one should always consult the doctor.

Success to GH therapy is monitored by the ability to gain the height velocity and the ability to reach a normal adult height or achieve nearly their full growth potential.

It is critical to abide by the doctor’s instructions to regularly adhere to GH injections without missing any dose to achieve the desired results.”

Treatment initiation with growth hormone therapy at early age (between 4 - 6 years of age) has maximal benefit than starting later or after 10-12 years of age.

GH injections are recommended till the growing ends of the bone fuse that results in cessation of further growth.

Any child diagnosed with GHD after the age of 12-14 years may not derive benefit of GH treatment because the growing ends of bone fuse even before the start of GH treatment.

Hence early diagnosis is extremely important for timely initiation of treatment to achieve good results.