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Growth Hormone Deficiency (GH) occurs in individuals whose body produces a significant reduce amount of growth hormone. A person can be born with GH deficiency, but it is usually detected in childhood and can also be diagnosed in adults. GH deficiency can occur on its own,but can also happen with other pituitary hormones deficiencies. At birth the infant's height and weight are normal, however as they become a few months older, their growth rate declines.

Symptoms
·Proportional stature well below that expected for family heights
·Delayed physical maturation
·Delayed bone age
·inability to gain weight
·delayed teeth development
·diminished quality of life
·loss of strength and stamina

in adults Abnormal low growth hormone levels as well as the above, can also be disabling
causing psychological symptoms like social withdrawal and depression.


Who treats it?
For children it is Paediatric endocrinologists who diagnose and treat growth hormone deficiency and growth problem. In adults it is Internist endocrinologists who specialise in the assessment and treatment of adult GH deficiency.


So what are the current available treatment?

A synthetic human growth hormone called SOMATROPIN , is a polypeptide hormone injected treatment which stimulates growth and cell reproduction. It is available at special paediatric units, and parents are trained to administer the injection, so that their child receives it on a daily basis until they stop growing. The child needs to be closely monitored and examined for rare chances of side effects. When this treatment has been completed, a reassessment is necessary to see if the child is likely to respond to further treatment in adulthood.

When treated with somatropin a severely deficient child begins to grow quite fast in the first few months, slowing down in the following years, and eventually reaching the typical height range for a child their age. Lifelong continuation is recommended for those most severely deficient. However the cost of the treatment is quite substantial.

The prognosis rate for some adults however, is not as great as it is for children, despite the great benefits. This is because adults are more reluctant to seek help for the condition due to embarrassment and the fear of injecting themselves daily.

What are the advantages?

There are almost no significant side effects of this type of this treatment. GH deficient children receiving this treatment, enjoy the benefits of increase strength, appetite, energy, muscle strength, quality of life, and improved motor development.

In regards to adults with GH deficiency, research studies have shown that they also benefit from somatropin such as enhanced energy and strength, improved bone density, muscle mass and blood lipid levels.

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