HGH for Adolescent Growth

Human growth hormone (HGH) can be administered to children when they are having trouble growing. The cause of this problem is typically a condition called pediatric growth hormone deficiency.

History

• Originally, human growth hormone had to be taken from a cadaver's pituitary glands (which only provided a few drops) and injected into the child. However, this method resulted in some children contracting Creutzfeld-Jacob disease, an illness related to Mad Cow Disease. In the mid-1980s scientists were able to create synthetic HGH that reduced the possibility of disease transfer.

Function

• Human growth hormone works in two cycles. In the direct cycle, the HGH binds to its target cells, while in the indirect cycle the liver converts the HGH into insulin-like growth factor type 1 (IGF-1). IGF-1 is the substance that actually produces growth in cells.

Use

• Pediatric growth hormone deficiency is a condition where the child's own pituitary gland either produces very little HGH or no HGH at all. Treatment ranges from three times a week to daily injections of HGH over several years, with noticeable changes occurring within three to four months.

Side Effects

• A child in need of HGH may experience side effects including headache, nausea, vomiting, rashes, ear infections, joint and muscle pain, fatigue, swollen appendages and enlarged breasts.

Warnings

• Human growth hormone must not be given to children who are growing normally, as the extremely high levels of HGH in the body can lead to major problems. A child's bones and organs can grow abnormally, his or her arteries can harden, and conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure can develop.