HGH in Infants

Infants and children need human growth hormone, or HGH, which is naturally produced in the body, to grow at a normal rate. However, when a child's body does not produce HGH, it is considered a medical condition, albeit one that can be alleviated with synthetic growth hormone provided that a doctor identifies the deficiency early enough in the child's life.

Growth Hormone

• A child's pituitary gland, which is located near the brain, produces HGH, a protein that travels through the bloodstream to the liver. The liver then secretes a hormone called insulin-like growth factor type 1, or IGF-1, which stimulates growth in the infant's body. As an adult, growth hormone continues having a purpose, maintaining the body through regulating elements like bone density and cholesterol levels.

Deficiency

• Sometimes the pituitary glands will fail to produce HGH or not produce enough of the hormone. In children and infants, this is a condition called pediatric growth hormone deficiency, or PGHD. Infants will seem to be a normal size at birth, but growth hormone deficiency becomes noticeable in infants when they stop growing regularly after 3 to 9 months after birth. There are also other potential symptoms that may appear: the baby's teeth may not develop as soon as expected and the body can grow a great amount of fat.

Causes and Diagnosis

• There are several potential causes of growth hormone deficiency, including a possibly hereditary genetic defect, the baby not receiving enough oxygen when born and the presence of a disease that attacks the brain, liver or pituitary glands. To diagnose the child, a doctor will weigh and measure him as well as subject him to blood tests to check for diseases and X-rays to see how the bones are developing.

Solutions

• To ensure healthy growth, the child must undergo a daily injection of synthetic growth hormone until she naturally stops growing. If the condition is diagnosed early enough, the injections can potentially bring the infant to an average size. The injection does not need to be delivered by a professional, as parents can be trained to deliver the shot on their own.

Concerns

• To identify abnormal growth, parents should regularly weigh and measure their infants on their own as well as request growth examinations from the child's doctor to get the most accurate assessment. After the child is finished receiving synthetic growth hormone, he should undergo an evaluation to determine if he will need further doses in adulthood. Additionally, there are potential side effects to the growth hormone. A child's appendages can swell and he can experience vomiting, headache, vision changes, muscle and joint pain and ear infections. If given to a normal child, HGH can foster abnormal body growth of body parts and bones as well as hardened arteries and high blood pressure.