Understanding Pediatric HGH Therapy
The American public is becoming increasingly aware that when you look good, you feel good. Perhaps that is why in 2014, the U.S. spa industry reported revenues of $15.5 billion, and the total number of spa visits increased to 160 million. More than 1.8 million Hyaluronic acid treatments were performed that same year to help people look and feel years younger.
But did you know that the same centers that offer these regenerative medical solutions (botox, laser skin resurfacing, platelet rich plasma injections, testosterone replacement therapy, etc.) also treat children with developmental conditions?
Pediatric human growth hormone (HGH) therapy is used to treat children who were born with growth hormone deficiency. Related conditions include Noonan syndrome, Turner syndrome, Leri-Weil syndrome, and more.
What is Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD)?
The pituitary gland is supposed to produce the growth hormone, which is called somatotropin. Growth hormone stimulates growth, keeping your muscles, tissues, and bones healthy.
What causes GHD?
Some children are born with the condition, and some doctors believe it to be hereditary. However, there are other causes of growth hormone deficiency that occur after birth:
- Severe head injury
- Infection
- Lack of blood supply to the pituitary gland
- Radiation treatments to the brain
What are the growth hormone deficiency symptoms found in children?
The most common symptom is that a child is significantly shorter than other children her age. However, a child with GHD may have normal body proportions. While children with normal levels of growth hormone grow an average of two and a half inches per year between age one and the onset of puberty, children who are deficient usually grow less than two inches each year. Other symptoms include:
- A younger-looking face
- Delayed puberty
- Increased amount of fat in the face and stomach
- Slow tooth development and hair growth
HGH therapy is the most common treatment for children with GHD. Somatotropin can be injected into the patient to promote healthy growth and development. Kids who undergo HGH therapy typically grow four or more inches over the first year of treatment.
If you have any additional questions regarding pediatric HGH therapy, feel free to post in the comments section below.
