Growth Hormone Deficiency

FAQs

• What are the most common signs of growth hormone deficiency in children versus adults?

  • Children: The primary sign is a slow growth rate (typically less than 2 inches per year) and a "younger-looking" or "doll-like" face.

  • Adults: Symptoms are more subtle, including increased body fat (especially around the waist), decreased muscle mass, low energy, and emotional changes like anxiety or depression.

• What causes the pituitary gland to stop producing growth hormone?

  • Congenital: Some people are born with the condition due to genetic mutations or structural brain defects.

  • Acquired: It can develop later in life due to head trauma, brain surgery, radiation therapy for cancer, or tumours (like a pituitary adenoma).

  • Idiopathic: In many cases, particularly in children, the exact cause is unknown.

• How is GHD diagnosed?

  • Diagnosis is rarely made with a single blood test because GH is released in pulses and is often undetectable in healthy people.

  • Doctors typically use GH stimulation tests, where a medication is given to trigger a hormone pulse, and blood is drawn over several hours to see if the gland responds adequately.

  • Other tools include X-rays to check "bone age" and MRIs to look for structural issues in the brain.

• Does a child with GHD always need treatment into adulthood?

  • Not necessarily. Many children with "isolated" GHD naturally begin producing enough hormone as they transition into adulthood.

  • However, those with permanent damage (like from a tumour or surgery) or specific genetic mutations usually require lifelong therapy to maintain healthy bones and metabolism.

• What does the treatment of GHD in Delhi involve?

  • The standard treatment is daily (or sometimes weekly) subcutaneous injections of synthetic growth hormone.

  • These injections are typically administered at home into fatty tissue, such as the stomach, thigh, or buttocks.