Your child’s growth is more than just a pencil mark on a door frame. It is a key indicator of their overall development. That is why it is important to know your child’s growth rate at every age. A slowing of growth or trending below the normal range could be a sign of an underlying medical condition, such as growth hormone deficiency.
What is growth hormone deficiency?
Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is a rare and treatable condition that causes short stature in children and metabolic issues in adults.1 This rare condition occurs when your pituitary gland does not release enough growth hormone (GH, or somatotropin). GHD can result from a genetic mutation or damage to your pituitary gland.1
Growth is an indicator of overall health and development, so addressing a growth delay early and with the right approach can make a world of difference.
Through our research and therapeutic innovations in growth-related disorders, we are driving change to ensure all people can live a healthy life.
We began pioneering advances in growth hormone therapeutics more than 30 years ago, and three decades later, our growth disorder treatments are still benefiting people around the world.
Growth hormone (GH) helps promote growth in children. It is important
for growth, muscle and bone strength, and distribution of body
fat.1,2 Once the growth plates in your bones (epiphyses)
have fused, GH doesn't have any impact on height. After you're done
growing, GH helps to maintain normal body structure and
metabolism.1
If your body does not have
enough GH — it can greatly affect your body. It can prevent normal
growth for both infants and children.
Most children
who experience delays in growth are healthy.3 For a small
number of children, certain diseases, medical conditions, and even
rare genetic disorders may also slow or stop growth.2 In
these instances, a child may require medication to help them
grow.1 Below is an overview of the causes.
A condition where the body does not make enough growth hormone, which is produced by the pituitary gland. Children whose bodies produce low amounts of growth hormone can experience delays in growth.
Adults with GHD do not produce enough growth hormone. This condition can result in decreased muscle mass, thinning bones, and other issues.
A rare genetic disorder that affects about 1 in 1,000-2,500 children, both boys and girls. Children with Noonan syndrome often experience short stature as well as heart problems, delays in puberty, and other health conditions.
A rare genetic disorder that affects about 1 in 2,500-3,000 girls. A girl with Turner syndrome may also have short stature, ovarian failure, heart defects, and other health problems.
Also a rare genetic disorder, PWS affects about 1 in 10,000-30,000 boys and girls. Children with PWS may experience short stature along with increased appetite, obesity, and other health conditions.
A deficiency due to abnormalities in the short stature homeobox-containing (SHOX) gene that can cause short stature in children.
A not-so-simple term used when there is no identifiable cause for a child’s short stature. When a child is very short compared to other children of the same age and other causes of short stature are ruled out, their doctor may diagnose ISS, which includes short children labeled with constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP) and familial short stature (FSS). Children with ISS often remain short into adulthood.
A normal type of growth where a healthy child grows and develops a bit later than other children. Typically, children with CDGP will reach an adult height that is average for their family.
Another name for shortness that runs in the family. Familial short stature means that a child is short because their birth parents are short.
When a baby’s birth weight or length falls below the 2.3rd percentile. It is not always known why a child is born SGA, but two possible causes are genetic defects or the mother’s health.
Short stature is often seen in children with CKD, a disease that affects kidney function. This may be due to nutritional, hormonal, or metabolic defects.
1. Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD): Symptoms & Treatment. Cleveland Clinic. Published 2024. Accessed June 21, 2024. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23343-growth-hormone-deficiency-ghd
2. Novo Nordisk. Connection Between Children’s Height and Health. More Than Height. Accessed June 21, 2024. https://www.morethanheight-us.com/height-and-health.html
3. Novo Nordisk. About Childhood and Adult Growth Disorders. More Than Height. Accessed June 21, 2024. https://www.morethanheight-us.com/about-growth-disorders.html