Pediatric HGH Therapy
Pediatric HGH therapy is used in children for various treatment options. Children with deficient growth hormone, or with Noonan syndrome, Turner syndrome, Leri-Weil syndrome, small for their gestational age and other diagnosis calls for Human Growth Hormone therapy in Rosarito & Tijuana Baja California, Mexico, to promote healthy height and development.
If you believe your child is deficient in growth hormone, or has any of the above medical conditions, contact FarmaLife today to schedule your consultation.
Symptoms of Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD)
Growth hormone deficiency is classified when the pituitary gland is supposed to produce somatotropin, which is important for keeping your tissues, bones, and muscles healthy, as well as advance growth. The most common symptom of GHD in children is their significantly shorter height than other children the same age.
Children who have GHD typically grow less than two inches per year during puberty. Some other common symptoms may include:
- Late puberty
- Increased pockets of fat in the abdomen or face
- Slow development or growth of teeth and hair
Pediatric Growth Hormone Deficiency Treatment
Human Growth Hormone (HGH) Therapy is the most common treatment recommended for children experiencing GHD and other medical conditions. During Pediatric HGH Therapy in Rosarito & Tijuana Baja California, Mexico, somatotropin is injected into the patient to promote healthy development and growth. During the first year of treatment, children are generally expected to grow four or more inches.
How Growth Hormone Treatment Works
Once a child has been diagnosed with GH deficiency, Turner Syndrome, or other conditions treatable with GH therapy, the pediatric endocrinologist will discuss the pros and cons of, and usually recommend, GH therapy. The GH used in treatment is manufactured in the laboratory to be identical to that produced by the pituitary gland, so it is safe and effective. GH is given through a subcutaneous (sub-Q-TAIN-ee-us) injection, which means that it goes into the fatty tissue just beneath the surface of the skin. GH can be given by a special injection device that looks like a pen. Because it is such a shallow injection, the needle is very small and does not hurt much at all.
What To Expect With Growth Hormone Treatment
The main thing to expect is growth! Although it takes about 3 to 6 months to realize any height differences, the important thing is that your child will grow — probably 1 to 2 inches within the first 6 months of starting treatment. There may be a few other things you notice:
- Your child may outgrow his or her shoes quickly. Foot growth may occur within 6 to 8 weeks, so you may have to buy new shoes more often.
- Your child may want to eat more. An increase in appetite is common, especially if he or she had a poor appetite before treatment.
- Your child may look skinnier for a while once height growth starts. An increase in lean body mass and decrease of fat mass are common with GH treatment.
It may take a number of years for your child to reach his or her adult height, so you should be aware that GH treatment is often a long-term commitment. Routine visits with the pediatric endocrinologist will be needed, as will periodic blood tests and x-rays to monitor your child’s progress on the treatment. Although the length of treatment varies, your child probably will have to stay on GH treatment until he or she has:
- Reached his or her full adult height
- Reached full bone maturity
- Grown less than 2 cm in the last year
Getting and Giving GH Injections
GH injections are quick and almost pain-free, so children ages 10 and up may be able to and often prefer to give themselves their own injections. It is important that a parent supervises the injection to make sure the child gives the correct dosage each day. Parents should give the injections to younger children. Because natural growth hormone is released mainly during sleep in children, GH treatment is more effective when taken at bedtime.
Learning how to give GH injections may sound intimidating at first, but once you and your child get used to it, it becomes just another daily habit. There are, however, some tips that you should know when you start GH therapy:
Storage
- GH must be refrigerated at 36 to 42° F; letting it get too hot or too cold will decrease its effectiveness.
- If left out overnight, you may place it back into refrigerator and continue to use it.
Time of Day
- Give GH at night, preferably within an hour of sleep. Try to give it consistently within an hour timeframe, for example between 9 and 10 p.m. every night.
- You may change the time occasionally, by a few hours earlier or later, but do not give before 5 p.m, except under unusual circumstances (such as leaving for a trip, a sleep-over, etc.)
- Do not make up missed injections.
- For best results, try not to miss more than once per month.
Injection Sites
- Use 4 of the 8 possible injection sites, and rotate them each time. The sites are back of arms, top or outside of thighs, sides of belly, and outer quadrant of buttocks.
- Document the site used nightly on a calendar.
- Document when you open a new cartridge to keep track of expiration dates and how many injections have been used out of each cartridge.
Finishing A Pen
Because Norditropin is very expensive, you should use up all of the medication in every pen.
- Pens will only allow you to dial to what is left of the medication. Use up the last of it, and start a new pen by doing a second injection with the amount missing.
Other Medications
Since GH does not interfere with other medications, it can be taken even if your child is mildly ill (colds, flu), unless your PCP tells you to stop.
Possible Side Effects
Although infrequent, there are some possible side effects that you should be aware of. They are:
- Allergic reaction, including swelling at the injection site, rash, or hives
- Hip, knee, or other joint pain
- Headache
- Progression of spine curvature in patients with scoliosis
- Temporary increase in blood sugar levels, which stops when the GH treatment stops
If the headache is persistent or severe, however, call your Doctor immediately . If you have questions about a reaction, or your child is experiencing a reaction, call your Doctor
Cost?
It all depends on the prescribed dosage.
Please call us at 619-568-2400
If you have any further questions about Pediatric HGH Therapy, please contact FarmaLife today to schedule a consultation. We look forward to hearing from you!
