Kids Growth Plate Exam and Growth Hormone Treatment
Growth hormone is produced by pituitary gland in the human brain. It helps children grow taller when their growth plates are open. In adults, growth hormone helps maintain muscles, tissues, and organs.
Growth hormone injectable is made by recombinant DNA technology and has been used for treatments of many diseases since FDA approval in 1985. Since the late 1980s there has been a considerable advancement in the manufacturing process of the HGH which has made it extremely safe for use with minimal short term and long term side effects.
Growth hormone treatment has been clinically shown to help children grow taller and improve final adult height. Rigorous clinical studies showed increase in final height in children with growth hormone deficiency and idiopathic short stature. These studies show no to minimal short-
and long-term side effects in children. If HGH is used in appropriate patients under medical supervision, risk of any potential side effects is minimal.
Growth hormone therapy can be used for healthy children with short stature. There are many children who are healthy but just short compared to their peers. It is called idiopathic short stature. Growth hormone injection is medically proven to be effective to improve the final adult height in children with idiopathic short stature. This can help with the child’s self-image and confidence.
Growth hormone shot is performed with a very tiny needle, once daily, 6 times a week at nighttime. This is to mimic the natural surge of our own growth hormone during our sleep. It can be administered under the skin (subcutaneously) in the arm, thigh, buttock, or abdomen, where you can find a good amount of fat layer. In-home injection training by a registered nurse is offered to parents.
The growth plates in the arms and legs start to close around the age of puberty. As puberty progresses, the growth plates in the arms and legs close slowly leaving only the growth plates in the spine and pelvis open. Therefore, treatment is most effective when started before puberty, ideally between the ages of 6 to 10 years. The treatment can continue until the growth plates close.
There are no set guidelines on how long the treatment should be. The duration of treatment depends on child’s age as well as the desired final height. At I GROW clinic, we recommend treatment for at least 6-12 months. Once growth plates are closed, the treatment should be stopped.
