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Children's health

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Growth hormone deficiency in DD?

10 replies

Beetlebum1981 · 04/05/2018 12:02

I just wondered if anyone had this picked up in their DD? My DD is 2rs 7mths and seems small for her age. Every time I have her measured she drops down the centiles, she was born on 50th and is now on about 5th, weight wise she's slowly going up the centiles.
I'm just wondering if there are any other symptoms or how it was identified for you. I've got her a drs appointment in a few weeks time as HVs are always just really dismissive.

OP posts:
MargoChanning · 04/05/2018 12:34

My DD has a genetic deletion so it was much easier for us to get things picked up on as she was already 'in the system', and it was recognized early on that her lack of growth was likely as a result of her condition.

We were referred to an endocrinologist who did tests. They found that she has an under active thyroid ( Hypothyroidism) and she now takes levothyroxine supplements.

The tests found that she does not have a growth hormone deficiency. However, it was clear that she was struggling to grow and was very low down on the percentiles. She was noticeably much smaller than her peers.

They recommended that she takes growth hormone therapy anyway, as there are no side effects (or rather, side effects are very rare), and would give her the much needed boost.

She has been on it for around 2 years so far and last year she grew 10 cms!

It involves a simple injection every night. This is the medicine and syringe that we use: www.zomacton.com/why-choose-zomacton/

So my advice would be to push for a test for both thyroid and growth hormone.

Does your daughter have any stomach problems? Worth also looking into coeliac disease, which in children can cause what's called 'failure to thrive'. www.coeliac.org.uk/coeliac-disease/coeliac-disease-in-children/

My DD was tested but found not to have coeliac disease - or at least, not yet! My mother has only recent been diagnosed in her late 60s, so it's something my DD might develop at a later stage (it runs in families).

If your DD has any of those symptoms, worth looking into as well.

Beetlebum1981 · 04/05/2018 14:05

Hi, thanks for the reply. She doesn't have any stomach problems, my friend suggested coeliac disease as her daughter suffers from it. Her weight has always been around 50th-75th centile which apparently makes her obese.

OP posts:
Muthafunker · 04/05/2018 20:35

My boy wasn't even on the centile chart for his first year then in 0.4 for his first 3 years. My advice is to keep pushing with your gp. We were referred to a consultant and had genetic, growth hormone and other tests. Growth hormone fine, so with us its a watch and wait. Hes now 6 and on 2nd centile so definite progress.

Good luck!

cestlavielife · 05/05/2018 18:16

Someone has to be short.. .but if she falling down centikes ask gp to refer to growth clinic. They will measure and watch for six months to see growth rate as well as run basic tests. Dd turned out to be coeliac after falling off the charts

pinkpixie83 · 05/05/2018 18:19

If you have any concerns push with the drs.

My son has just been diagnosed GHD, we had our medication delivered yesterday.

It took me ages to get anyone medical to take me seriously, and it's taken since August last year to make our way through the system. Trust your instincts.

MrsMaisel · 06/05/2018 13:30

Suggest you join the child growth foundation group on FB as there's a lot of information and people with experience. My son is on GH - he is deficient because of tumour. There are a lot of different causes but it's very important to bottom it out.

Beetlebum1981 · 06/05/2018 21:01

Thanks for all the replies. As some of you have said someone has to be small, I think MIL has just made me more aware of it as BIL suffers from it. We'll see what Dr has to say.

OP posts:
woosey35 · 07/05/2018 23:51

Dd dropped like a stone through the centile charts. Diagnosed with GHD and now doing well on growth hormone. Follow your instincts. I didn’t realise it can affect all kinds of development, not just simply height

cestlavielife · 08/05/2018 14:23

If BIL has a deficiency make sure to say that as it could be something genetic and passed on.

cestlavielife · 08/05/2018 14:24

www.yourhormones.info/endocrine-conditions/childhood-onset-growth-hormone-deficiency

It can in some.cases be inherited

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