Treatment:

Synthetic growth hormone can be used for children with growth hormone deficiency. This treatment requires the assistance of a pediatric endocrinologist. Treatment with synthetic (recombinant) human growth hormone is generally considered to be safe. Side effects are rare.

If growth hormone is deficient, only synthetic growth hormone is given. If other hormones are also deficient, additional hormone replacement preparations are required.

Expectations (prognosis):

Growth rates are improved in most children treated with growth hormones, although the effectiveness may decrease with prolonged treatment.

Complications:

If left untreated, extremely short stature and delayed puberty will result from this condition.

In the past, some patients acquired Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease (the human form of "mad cow" disease) from human-derived growth hormone that was used to treat growth deficiencies. This medication has been removed from the market.

Synthetic growth hormone is used instead and carries no risk of infectious disease.

Calling your health care provider:

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