Is it good to give growth hormone to children who don't grow up

Whether to use growth hormone when a child's height growth is slow should be determined based on medical evaluation. The applicability of growth hormone therapy is mainly related to factors such as growth hormone deficiency, idiopathic short stature, delayed bone development, genetic factors, and nutritional status.

1. Growth hormone deficiency:

Diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency is the core indication for the use of growth hormone. Serum growth hormone levels can be detected through insulin hypoglycemia test or arginine stimulation test. If the peak value is less than 10ng/ml and accompanied by a height below the 3rd percentile of the same age and gender, alternative treatment should be considered. Such children often grow less than 4 centimeters in height each year and have significantly delayed bone age.

2. Idiopathic dwarfism:

Children with non hormone deficient dwarfism should be evaluated with caution. Children with idiopathic short stature have normal secretion of growth hormone, but their height is more than 2 standard deviations lower than that of children of the same race, gender, and age. Although the US FDA approves this indication, intervention is only recommended when predicting adult height for males<160cm and females<150cm.

3. Delayed bone development:

Bone age testing can distinguish temporary developmental delays. Some children's bone age lags behind their actual age by more than 2 years, and their puberty starts later, but their final height can reach the genetic target height. It is recommended to monitor changes in bone age every six months to avoid unnecessary hormone intervention in such situations.

4. Genetic factors influence:

Parental height inheritance accounts for 70% of a child's final height. The developmental potential can be estimated using the target height calculation formula for boys: father height+mother height+13/2 ± 5cm; for girls: father height+mother height -13/2 ± 5cm. If the actual height is within the genetic range, special treatment is usually not required.

5. Nutrition and Lifestyle:

Chronic malnutrition or sleep deprivation can inhibit growth axis function. Ensuring a daily protein intake of 1.5-2g/kg body weight, maintaining vitamin D levels above 30ng/ml, and a deep sleep duration of 8-10 hours can naturally improve the growth rate of some children. This type of situation should prioritize correcting the underlying factors.

It is recommended to regularly monitor the growth curve of children and record changes in height and weight every 3 months. Ensure daily intake of 500ml milk, 1 egg, and moderate lean meat, and supplement with vitamin D400-800IU. Engage in vertical exercises such as skipping rope and basketball for 30 minutes every day, and fall asleep before 22:00 at night. If the annual growth rate continues to be less than 5 centimeters or there is abnormal bone age progression, professional evaluations such as growth hormone stimulation tests should be conducted at the pediatric endocrinology department. Self medication is strictly prohibited. During the treatment period, thyroid function, blood glucose, and scoliosis should be rechecked every 3 months. Most children require a course of treatment lasting 1-2 years until the epiphyseal plate closes.