When is the best time to start using growth hormone?
The general principle is to start using it before puberty, when the child has a high potential for bone growth. In the past, it was mostly recommended to start using it after the age of 4. However, some scholars now suggest that if the cause of dwarfism is clearly diagnosed in some patients and the height deviation from normal is severe, it is also possible to start the medication earlier to give the child a greater chance of improving the final height. Therefore, today some children as young as 3 years old can also be treated with medication, and early detection and treatment is required.
Are there any children who cannot use growth hormone because of specific diseases or medical reasons?
Yes, there are. The child will be tested accordingly before treatment. If the child has active liver damage or has viral hepatitis, abnormal glucose metabolism, or untreated tumors, the child cannot use growth hormone immediately. The primary disease must be controlled before the doctor can evaluate whether the drug can be used.
How can the dose of growth hormone be controlled when it is used?
The dose of growth hormone has a certain range, and doctors will make individualized adjustments according to the patient’s condition and the growth effect after use. The dose is 0.1-0.15 IU per kilogram of body weight per day, but for children with pubertal development, Turner syndrome, small for gestational age, idiopathic short stature and certain partial growth hormone deficiencies, the dose is relatively high, generally 0.15-0.2 IU per kilogram of body weight per day. How should growth hormone be injected?
The goal of using growth hormone is to promote growth and improve height. In order to simulate physiological secretion, the currently recommended dosing method is subcutaneous injection once a night half an hour before bedtime, and the commonly used injection sites are around the umbilicus, upper arms and thighs. To improve the absorption rate of the drug, the injection site should be changed each time to avoid bumps on the skin due to repeated injections. If you miss a shot occasionally for some special reasons, such as being sick or having a fever, it does not have much effect.
What if the number of missed injections is high?
Some information shows that to get better results when injecting growth hormone, it is necessary to inject at least 5 days a week. If the number of missed injections is too high, it will significantly affect the efficacy of the treatment.
How do parents measure the effectiveness of the medication?
Efficacy is related to many factors, such as the duration of treatment, dosage, dosage form, the child’s compliance and nutrition, exercise and sleep, so there are individual differences. The easiest way to measure efficacy is to compare the growth rate before and after the injection. One issue involved here is that before using growth hormone, there must be a complete scientific evaluation of the child. It is important not only to measure such an indicator as height, but also to know the growth rate of the child for at least six months prior to the visit. Short children have an annual growth rate of ≤100px , while normal healthy children have an annual growth rate of between 5-175px.
How should growth hormone be stored?
Growth hormone has certain requirements on the storage environment, including how to store the original drug, how to store the diluted solution, and how long it must be used up after dilution. Generally, it is required to be stored at 2-8℃ away from light and refrigerated. Parents should read the instructions in detail before use.