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Treatment with growth hormone, also known as GH or somatotropin, is indicated for boys and girls who are deficient in this hormone, which causes growth retardation. This treatment should be indicated by the endocrinologist according to the child's characteristics, and injections are usually indicated daily.
Growth hormone is naturally present in the body, being produced in the brain by the pituitary gland, located at the base of the skull, and is essential for the child's growth, so that it reaches the usual height of an adult.
In addition, as this hormone is known to promote weight loss, reduce the aging process and increase lean mass, some adults have sought the use of this hormone for aesthetic reasons, however, this medication is contraindicated for these purposes, as it is not safe for health, and there is no scientific evidence.
How is done
Treatment with growth hormone is indicated by the endocrinologist and is done with injections, subcutaneously, in the fat layer of the skin of the arms, thighs, buttocks or abdomen, at night, or according to each case.
In most cases it is recommended to give an injection once a day until the adolescent reaches bone maturity, which is when the cartilages of the long bones close, because when this happens there is no longer any possibility of growing, even taking the GH .
However, some adults with a deficiency of this hormone may continue taking, according to the endocrinologist's indication, because it has some benefits, such as improving physical capacity and improving the conditions of bones and muscles. Because of these benefits, some people use growth hormone in the wrong way to treat obesity, GH being contraindicated for these purposes, because it can be associated with several side effects.
In addition, treatment with GH should not be done in people who have malignant or brain tumors, decompensated diabetes, who have debilitating illnesses or who have undergone major surgery, for example.
Possible side effects
When properly indicated by the doctor, growth hormone is usually well tolerated and rarely causes side effects. However, in some cases there may be a reaction at the application site and, very rarely, a syndrome of intracranial hypertension, which leads to headache, seizures, muscle pain and visual changes.
In adults, GH can cause fluid retention, causing swelling, pain in muscles and joints as well as carpal tunnel syndrome, which causes tingling.
When is indicated
The treatment with growth hormone is indicated in cases where the pediatrician detects that the child does not have an adequate growth and is below what is considered normal, due to the deficient production of the hormone.
In addition, treatment with this hormone can also be indicated in the case of genetic changes such as Turner's syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome, for example.
The first signs that the child is not growing enough are more easily identified from the age of two, and it can be observed that the child is always the smallest in the class or that it takes longer to change clothes and shoes, for example. Know what it is and how to identify stunted growth.