Growth Hormone Therapy to Increase Short Height of Children

There are various causes of short children, ranging from malnutrition, heredity, to too little growth hormone. One way that can be done to overcome this condition is by utilizing growth hormone therapy. Growth hormone or human growth hormone (HGH) is a hormone that is naturally produced by the pituitary gland in the brain. This hormone serves to ensure that children can grow and develop normally. If the child's body lacks growth hormone, then he can look shorter than his age friends. So that children who are short due to lack of growth hormone can grow normally tall, he can be given growth hormone therapy.

Recognizing Disorders of Height Growth in Children

In addition to lack of growth hormone, a short body in children can be caused by several things, including genetic factors. This condition is normal in children whose parents have short stature. Certain diseases or conditions, such as malnutrition, anemia, asthma, bone growth disorders, and hypothyroidism in children, also play a role in causing the child's height to be lacking. Short bodies caused by growth hormone deficiency usually begin to be recognized since children aged 2-3 years. The signs are:
  • The face looks younger than children his age.
  • Shorter height than children his age.
  • The child's body looks fat.
  • Puberty is delayed, even children may not experience puberty.
To ensure the presence or absence of growth hormone disorders in children, a thorough examination is needed, such as a physical examination, assessment of nutritional status to measure a child's weight and height, blood tests, and X-ray examination. The series of tests is useful for determining the cause of a short-bodied child, measuring the amount of growth hormone in the child's body, knowing the level of bone growth, and knowing how the child's body produces and uses growth hormone.

The Role of Growth Hormone Therapy in Short Body Children

The condition of children who are short stature due to lack of growth hormone can be treated by pediatricians. If needed, the doctor will give growth hormone therapy to increase the child's height. Growth hormone therapy is a long-term therapy that can last several years. This therapy is generally given by injection. The doctor will determine the dose and how long growth hormone therapy is given, and monitor the child's response to therapy with regular monitoring. When the child is undergoing growth hormone therapy, the doctor can change the therapeutic dose according to the child's needs. This growth hormone therapy can increase a child's height due to lack of growth hormone to approximately 10 cm in the first year and 7.5 cm in the following year. In addition to growth hormone deficiency, this therapy can also help children who have short bodies due to other conditions, such as being born prematurely, chronic kidney disease, Turner syndrome, and Prader-Willi syndrome. Please note, giving growth hormone to children has several side effects, such as:
  • Headache.
  • Muscle and joint pain.
  • Pain and swelling at the injection site.
Besides having side effects, giving growth hormone to children can also cause complications in the form of spinal disorders (scoliosis), problems in the pelvic bones, such as dislocation or broken bones, and diabetes. However, this rarely happens. Therefore, regular dosing and health evaluation must be carried out to monitor the child's condition and assess whether the child has any side effects while undergoing growth hormone therapy. Growth hormone therapy can be one way to optimize children's height. Even so, this therapy has risks. Parents can discuss this in depth with the pediatrician to further understand the benefits and risks of this therapy.

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