Overview
When a child is diagnosed with GHD, it means that their body is not producing enough growth hormone, so they are not growing the way they should. GHD affects about 1 in every 30,000 children per year.
Cause
In GHD, the portions of the brain responsible for stimulating and secreting growth hormone may not be working properly, or could be damaged. In other cases, GHD can be caused by a hormone imbalance. This means that growth hormone is not released in high enough levels to stimulate normal growth.
Symptoms
The first sign of GHD is that children are shorter than expected for their age. GHD can occur at any time from birth, and sometimes isn’t diagnosed until adulthood. New born babies may have hypoglycaemia and/or prolonged jaundice, as well as a traumatic delivery. Children may have particularly small hands and feet, and more fat on the chest and tummy. Growth hormone is also crucial for bone development and healthy muscles, so this may also be impacted in children with GHD.
Diagnosis
It is crucial that GHD is diagnosed as soon as possible to ensure that children can get the right treatment to help them grow and reach a normalised height at adulthood.
Calculate your child’s growth
It is important to keep track of your child’s growth in order to identify if there is a problem early on. We recommend measuring your child every 6 months, which is now easier, with our simple to use growth calculator.
Get prepared for talking to your doctor
If you are concerned about your child’s growth, don’t hesitate to speak with an HCP. They will be able to complete some measurements and investigate further if needed, potentially referring you on to a specialist. Here we can help you plan for both conversations.
