CD-ROM Today (UK) (Spanish) 15/CDRT.iso/dp/0197/01974.txt

Text File | 1994-01-17 | 4KB | 69 lines

$Unique_ID{BRK01974}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Growth Hormones for Short Children}
$Subject{grow Growth growing hormone Hormones Short shortness small tiny
little tall taller height child Children son sons daughter daughters boy boys
girl girls offspring medicine medicines medication medications hGH Food Drug
drugs Administration treat treatment treatments genetic genetics disease
diseases skeleton skeletal system systems illness illnesses inherit inherited
syndrome syndromes disorder disorders abnormality abnormalities Down Noonan
Prader-Willi x-ray x-rays bone bones age test tests testing examine
examination examinations therapy therapies social adjustment safe safety side
effect effects risk risks hazard hazards danger dangers leukemia hypertension
metabolize metabolism carbohydrate carbohydrates benefit benefits}
$Volume{}
$Log{
Cross Section of the Brain*0002201.scf
Hormones of the Hypothalamus*0002902.scf
Location and Function of the Endocrine Glands*0002901.scf}

Copyright (c) 1993  Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Growth Hormones for Short Children


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QUESTION:  I have two sons, ages 7 and 4, both happy active youngsters.
However, the older boy is not growing very rapidly, and I fear his younger
brother will soon catch up to him.  Is there any medication that can be used
to help my older son grow?  I have read that there are hormones that are
available.  What are they?  Please help me, this is most important.

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ANSWER:  There are currently two human growth hormones (hGH) approved by the
Food and Drug Administration for use in the United States, available to treat
short children whose growth rate is slow, but there are many factors to be
taken into consideration before they may be advised as treatment.  To start
with, all other factors that might result in short height must be evaluated.
They include a family history of short stature, diseases of the skeletal
system, chronic illness, and some inherited syndromes (such as Down, Noonan
and Prader-Willi).  If none of these are present, and your son is in the lower
third of the growth charts with less than normal speed of growth, x-rays are
used to evaluate the degree of bone growth (bone age).
     If all of the criteria are met, a series of tests are performed to
evaluate the body's own ability to produce growth hormones.  With these
results in hand, a decision to use hGH therapy can be made.  Even when there
is no deficiency in growth hormone production, this treatment can be
considered when there are problems with social adjustment that can be changed
by increased growth, or when the present size of the child reveals that he
will not reach the target height.  Target height is calculated by adding your
height and the height of his father, and then dividing by 2.
     You must next consider two important issues.  While, in general, doses of
hGH given in doses calculated to replace the deficiency are considered safe
and efficient, there are possible side effects when stronger doses are used or
when a deficiency is not present.  These include the possibility of an
increased risk of leukemia, salt and water retention with hypertension, and
alteration in the metabolism of carbohydrates in the body.  Then there is the
cost, about $25,000 a year, for the daily injections.  The expense should be
considered in the light of the potential benefits.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.