Treatment:

A child's short stature will often affect self-esteem. Providing emotional support is an important part of treatment. Children may be teased by classmates and playmates. Family, friends, and teachers should emphasize the child's other skills and strengths.

Treatment involves growth hormone injections given at home. Patients may receive growth hormone several times a week or once a day.

Many children gain 4 or more inches over the first year, and 3 or more inches during the next 2 years. Then the growth rate slowly decreases.

Serious side effects of growth hormone therapy are rare. The most common side effects are:

• Fluid retention
• Muscle and joint aches

Expectations (prognosis):

The earlier the condition is treated, the better the chance that a child will grow to be a near-normal adult height.

Growth hormone replacement therapy does not work for all children.

Complications:

If left untreated, growth hormone deficiency will lead to short stature and delayed puberty.

Growth hormone deficiency may occur with deficiencies of other hormones, including the following:

• Adrenocorticotrophic hormone or ACTH (controls the adrenal gland and its production of cortisol, DHEA, and other hormones)
• Gonadotropins (control production of male and female sex hormones)
• Thyrotropins (control production of thyroid hormones)
• Vasopressin (controls water balance in the body)

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if your child seems abnormally short for his or her age.