Managing
Pediatric GHD
THE CHALLENGES OF PEDIATRIC GROWTH HORMONE DEFICIENCY (GHD)
GHD comes with its own unique set of challenges for children and their families. With no two journeys alike, it’s a personal and individual experience.
As your child gets older, together you may face new challenges coping with GHD.
Knowing what's coming can help you be prepared with solutions.
Young Children
For younger children, understanding how their bodies work can be challenging. If your child feels concerned about fitting in due to their height, reassure them by highlighting their progress.
Preteens
Preteens may start to question why they’re still in treatment, and why their friends don’t have to take injections. Allow your child to take the lead during doctor visits and ask questions. Having conversations about how their body is changing can help develop a greater understanding and acceptance of their GHD.
Teenagers
Teenagers may begin losing motivation to continue treatment when they see themselves catching up to their peers in height. It’s important to remind them that GH treats more than just height. Bone and heart health, muscle development, and metabolism are all affected by the presence of GH in your child’s body.
Did You Know?
Early treatment with GH therapy can help your child reach their full height potential. It’s important to start the conversation with your doctor soon, as GH therapy is most effective before your child’s growth plates fuse.
Scheduling Challenges
Don’t let your child’s GHD treatment routine stop the whole family from having fun. Scheduling lifestyle activities, like traveling and social events, are totally doable with a little extra planning.
Medication
documentation
If you’re traveling, especially outside of the U.S., ask your pediatrician or endocrinologist for a letter about all of the medications and doses your child is taking. This will be useful if your child becomes unwell and needs to see a doctor while away from home.
Flying with
medications
Think about packing your child’s GHD and other medications in your carry-on luggage. This will avoid temperature changes associated with the cargo area, and removes the stress of a lost bag that may contain your child’s medication. For specific guidance on traveling with medications, visit the Transportation Security Administration website by clicking here.
Medications that
need to be kept cool
In case your child’s GHD or other medications do need to be refrigerated, consider:
- Using a cool bag with two freezer blocks
- Making sure the place you’re staying has a refrigerator
Emotional Challenges
Growth hormone injections can also present challenges for parents. Here are a few things parents may worry about when it comes to administering injections:
- Feeling anxious about giving your child the correct dose
- Experiencing stress over preparing the medicine properly
- Being overwhelmed with the responsibility of this important task
- Having guilt because giving your child an injection can be uncomfortable for them
Remember, if you’re feeling stressed, you can find support from the GHD community in the times when you’re feeling worried or alone.
Not just the boys
Research suggests that girls may be underdiagnosed with GHD compared to boys. This highlights the importance of heightened awareness and early detection, helping to ensure all children, regardless of gender, receive timely intervention for optimal growth and development.
GHD in Girls
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