Hormones and Growth Disorders
One of the glands in your body is called the pituitary gland (say: peh-too-eh-ter-ee). It's found at the bottom of your brain and is shaped like a peanut. It may be small in size, but it's pretty big in importance. One of the chemical messengers the pituitary gland sends out to your body is called growth hormone, which (no surprise) is essential for growth.
When the pituitary gland doesn't make enough growth hormone — and sometimes other pituitary hormones as well — the condition is called hypopituitarism (say: hi-po-peh-too-eh-ter-is-em). This can slow down a kid's growth. There are special tests to find out if children don't produce enough growth hormone. If they don't, daily shots of growth hormone can often help these kids grow to be normal-sized adults.
Another gland that produces hormones important for growth is your thyroid (say: thi-royd). You may be able to feel it if you press gently with your fingers across the front of your neck, just under your Adam's apple. It is shaped like a butterfly and moves up and down when you swallow.
Your thyroid makes a hormone called thyroxine (say: thi-rocks-in). If it makes too little, the condition is called hypothyroidism (say hi-po-thi-royd-is-em). Having too little thyroxine makes a kid grow more slowly. Doctors can do a simple blood test for hypothyroidism. If it's needed, a kid can take the missing hormone as a pill.
What Are Some Other Reasons Why Kids Do Not Grow Normally?
Although hormones play a major role in growth, there are lots of reasons why kids might not grow normally. Some others include:
* Chronic diseases.
These include heart and kidney problems, cystic fibrosis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and sickle cell anemia, which may slow growth in some cases.
* Complications during pregnancy.
One of the reasons a pregnant woman is warned not to smoke or drink is because it may slow down her baby's growth. A baby may be too small when it's born and some remain small for life. This condition is called intrauterine (say: in-trah-yu-ter-in) growth retardation, or IUGR. Some infections during pregnancy, other pregnancy problems, and certain genetic diseases can also cause this problem.
* Failure to thrive.
Some babies don't grow and gain weight normally after they're born. This is called failure to thrive (FTT). FTT may happen when a child simply doesn't get enough to eat. Some babies may have an illness that needs to be treated, but most will grow normally after they start eating enough food.
* Genetic conditions.
Some genetic conditions can also cause children to not grow as they should. Some girls who are short may have Turner syndrome. This means they have one X chromosome instead of two, or that one of their X chromosomes is abnormal. Another genetic condition, called Marfan syndrome, makes a person tall, with very long legs and arms. The person may also have heart and eye problems.
Many of these growth disorders can be successfully treated today. With help, kids who might once have ended up very short or very tall can grow up more like other children. And that's a happy ending to any fairy tale!
When the pituitary gland doesn't make enough growth hormone — and sometimes other pituitary hormones as well — the condition is called hypopituitarism (say: hi-po-peh-too-eh-ter-is-em). This can slow down a kid's growth. There are special tests to find out if children don't produce enough growth hormone. If they don't, daily shots of growth hormone can often help these kids grow to be normal-sized adults.
Another gland that produces hormones important for growth is your thyroid (say: thi-royd). You may be able to feel it if you press gently with your fingers across the front of your neck, just under your Adam's apple. It is shaped like a butterfly and moves up and down when you swallow.
Your thyroid makes a hormone called thyroxine (say: thi-rocks-in). If it makes too little, the condition is called hypothyroidism (say hi-po-thi-royd-is-em). Having too little thyroxine makes a kid grow more slowly. Doctors can do a simple blood test for hypothyroidism. If it's needed, a kid can take the missing hormone as a pill.
What Are Some Other Reasons Why Kids Do Not Grow Normally?
Although hormones play a major role in growth, there are lots of reasons why kids might not grow normally. Some others include:
* Chronic diseases.
These include heart and kidney problems, cystic fibrosis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and sickle cell anemia, which may slow growth in some cases.
* Complications during pregnancy.
One of the reasons a pregnant woman is warned not to smoke or drink is because it may slow down her baby's growth. A baby may be too small when it's born and some remain small for life. This condition is called intrauterine (say: in-trah-yu-ter-in) growth retardation, or IUGR. Some infections during pregnancy, other pregnancy problems, and certain genetic diseases can also cause this problem.
* Failure to thrive.
Some babies don't grow and gain weight normally after they're born. This is called failure to thrive (FTT). FTT may happen when a child simply doesn't get enough to eat. Some babies may have an illness that needs to be treated, but most will grow normally after they start eating enough food.
* Genetic conditions.
Terbitkan Entri
Some genetic conditions can also cause children to not grow as they should. Some girls who are short may have Turner syndrome. This means they have one X chromosome instead of two, or that one of their X chromosomes is abnormal. Another genetic condition, called Marfan syndrome, makes a person tall, with very long legs and arms. The person may also have heart and eye problems.
Many of these growth disorders can be successfully treated today. With help, kids who might once have ended up very short or very tall can grow up more like other children. And that's a happy ending to any fairy tale!
Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
