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How To Manage HGH Deficiency Especially In Children! |
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Human Growth Hormone Deficiency and its
Management
Quite a number of children are suffering from a condition wherein the anterior
pituitary gland secretes inadequate amount of human growth hormone (HGH),
Somatropin or
Somatotropin. This medical condition is classified under hypopituitarism or the
deficiency of hormonal secretion from the adenohypophysis.
Growth hormone is one of the seven hormones manufactured and produced by the
anterior pituitary gland as per the stimulation by the hypothalamus. This
hormone plays a significant role in the growth of bone, muscles, and other
tissues leading to an increase in height of children. The development of these
body tissues is a result of a boost in the protein anabolism. Other actions of
the growth hormone include the breakdown of fats into three fatty acids and it
also assists in the action of insulin.
Growth failure ensues once there is deficient production of Somatotropin from
the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland. Hallmark manifestations of this low
growth hormone secretion in infants involve hypoglycemia (low blood sugar level)
or Micropenis in male (significant decrease in the length of the penis).
Hyposecretion of the human growth hormone may occur few months after birth until
during the period of puberty. A child may have noticeable impeded motor
development such as walking, jumping, and standing due to the immaturity of the
muscular system, which is brought about by the growth hormone deficiency. The
condition in which the child has a short stature but still has a
well-proportioned body is called dwarfism.
In order to manage this inadequacy in the secretion of Somatotropin, the child
must undergo the long-term growth hormone treatment. This is done by replacing
the growth hormone that cannot be sufficiently produced by the body. These human
growth hormone supplements are created through the RNA recombination brought
about by the advancing technology. Two of the most common drugs used in growth
hormone therapy are: Somatrem (Protropin) and Somatropin (Humatrope, Saizen,
Jintropin, Norditropin and Genotropin). These two growth hormone molecules are
administered either intramuscularly (muscle) or subcutaneously (under the skin).
Along the treatment process, there is an apparent growth in height and
improvement in the motor functions. Side effects or adverse effects are uncommon
in children undergoing human growth hormone therapy. However, human growth
hormone injections are known to be pretty expensive, which is why not all
affected individuals are able to afford the treatment.
It is important to be aware of the proper diet in children diagnosed of having
growth hormone hyposecretion. There is high risk for hyperlipidemia and
hypercholesterolemia as caused by the
deficiency of human growth hormone. Fats
are not broken down into simpler units and these remain in the bloodstream. Low
fat diet is prescribed for patients with this kind of deficiency.
Exercise is also a factor in improving the functioning of children with low
Somatotropin production. Swimming and bicycling are the most common exercises
recommended for people affected by this condition. They should avoid too much
stress on the bones, muscles, and other tissues. But then, the common child play
can already be used as form of exercise since this is not as traumatic as other
strenuous exercises.
Awareness on the required treatment with the corresponding non-pharmacologic
management is necessary to improve the health of children with human growth
hormone hyposecretion. It is important that even through the course of this
condition, the child should be about as healthy as a normal human being without
any occurrence of further complications.
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