Symptoms and Effects of this syndrome

Growth Hormone Deficiency

GROWTH HORMONE DEFICIENCY
* The most rapid period of growth in our bodies actually occurs before we are born, during the fetal development stages.

* Following birth, growth is still very rapid, especially in the first 12 months of life, and then after the early years of life the growth rate gradually decreases.

* Normal body growth is controlled by a growth hormone which is produced by a gland in the brain called the pituitary gland. This growth hormone is a very powerful substance which alters the chemical activity of cells throughout the body it stimulates the manufacture of protein in muscles and the release of energy from cells by breaking down fat.

* Overproduction of this growth hormone causes rapid and excess bodily growth, whereas decreased secretion of growth hormone results in delayed growth and immaturity.

* In people with delayed growth resulting in short stature, that is `underheight' for their age, growth hormone can be administered to these patients to successfully stimulate and promote growth. In the past such `growth hormone treatments' were extracted from the pituitary glands of human corpses, but nowadays it can be produced synthetically in the laboratory.

* Certain disorders produce a deficiency of growth hormone these conditions, such as `Turners Syndrome' are rare but interesting and treatable. `Turners Syndrome' only occurs in girls and affects about 1 in every 3,000. Alongwith short stature there can be poor breast development, inverted nipples, recurring ear infections and a deformity called `webbing of the neck' where the skin between the chin and the shoulders appears to stretched like the webbed feet of a duck.

* Any child who is unable to attain normal stature and height because of a natural deficiency of their own growth hormone can be given a synthetic growth hormone called `Somatropin'. This has to be given as an injection on a daily or three times weekly basis. It is successful in producing normal growth, but it is very expensive, costing about 5,000 per year for each child treated.

* It is vitally important that babies and young children should be regularly screened at child development clinics, to make sure that they are developing normally, because the earlier a growth problem is detected the better the results from treatment. Growth hormone treatment should ideally be started around 4 years of age.

* Further information from:
The Child Growth Foundation, 2 Mayfield Avenue, London, W4.
IMPORTANT NOTICE : This content is from the Dr Chris Steele personal archive and is provided for convenience only. Information contained here may no longer agree with the most up to date medical advice. Please check with a medical professional before taking any action.

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