If a child with growth hormone deficiency is not treated early, he or she may experience the following symptoms: failure to meet height standards, slow bone development, slow growth rate, appearance younger than the actual age, and fat deposits, especially in the waist and abdomen.
Why does growth hormone deficiency affect children’s growth?
In children with normal growth, growth hormone circulates through the bloodstream to reach the entire body and stimulate growth. Lack of adequate amounts of growth hormone can affect the body’s growth and development by affecting the body’s basic supply of
Protein Constitutes muscle tissue. Without sufficient growth hormone, the body cannot provide enough protein to make up muscle, which is why growth hormone deficiency may cause children to be physically weak and inactive.
Fats Provide the energy supply, and growth hormone encourages the conversion of fats into the energy needed for growth. Children with growth hormone deficiency do not burn fat efficiently and are more likely to gain weight.
Hormones that stimulate bone growth Growth hormone stimulates the body to secrete other hormones, such as insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), a hormone that plays a very important role in bone growth. Lack of IGF-1 is one of the reasons why children with growth hormone deficiency do not develop height normally.
Growth hormone reaches all parts of the body through the blood circulation and plays a role in signaling growth to organs.