Normal Growth
How do children grow?Measuring your child’s heightGrowth chartsWhat does normal growth look like?What does abnormal growth look like?Height calculator
Determinants Of Growth
What affects growth?Growth Hormone
Growth Problems in Children
Short statureGrowth disordersGrowth hormone deficiencySmall for gestational ageTurner syndromePrader Willi syndromeIdiopathic Short Stature
Nutrition & Lifestyle
NutritionSleepPhysical activity
Growth Hormone Therapy
Treatment options
Financial Assistance
Medication Assistance Fund
Growth Hormone FAQs
FAQsClinic Locator
ArticlesArticles
Normal Growth
Normal Growth
How do children grow?Measuring your child’s heightGrowth chartsWhat does normal growth look like?What does abnormal growth look like?Height calculator
Determinants Of Growth
What affects growth?Growth Hormone
Growth Problems in Children
Short statureGrowth disordersGrowth hormone deficiencySmall for gestational ageTurner syndromePrader Willi syndromeIdiopathic short stature
Nutrition & Lifestyle
NutritionSleepPhysical activity
Growth Hormone Therapy
Treatment options
Financial Assistance
Medication Assistance Fund
Growth Hormone FAQs
Growth Hormone FAQs
FAQsClinic Locator
Downloads
Articles
Articles
Is growth hormone therapy safe for children?
Growth hormone therapy is a safe and effective treatment for children with growth hormone deficiency and other growth disorders causing short stature.

Significant side effects of growth hormone therapy may include headaches, nausea and vomiting, joint pain, and swelling in the hands and feet (oedema). However, these are very rare.16 If they do happen, your child’s doctor or nurse should be informed.

The most frequent side effects are skin reactions at the site of injection, such as pain, redness, swelling, itching and bruising.45 Repeated injections at the same site may cause lipoatrophy – a large deep depression or dimple as a result of damage to the underlying fatty tissue. To prevent this, rotate the injection sites for each injection so that the skin has time to heal properly.46
Why isn’t growth hormone therapy recommended for
idiopathic short stature?
The effectiveness of growth hormone therapy for idiopathic short stature (ISS) is controversial. Many doctors are divided as to whether children with ISS would benefit from growth hormone therapy.47 The response to treatment in children with ISS is highly variable, and those who do respond to treatment may only have modest gains in height (by an average of 4–6 cm only).27,48

Growth hormone therapy is expensive and works slowly over several years. The potential gains in height will need to be weighed against the considerable cost of treatment, which may exceed SGD 30,000 per year depending on dosage levels. For a 30-kg child, the estimated cost is ~SGD 23,000 per 1 cm increase in height.48

If your child doesn’t qualify for growth hormone therapy, discuss your child’s options with your doctor. For some children, a growth plan focusing on lifestyle habits (healthy eating, sleeping and physical activity) does help. Others may require special interventions. Your doctor will be the best resource to answer your questions.
Ⓒ 2017-2022 Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and /or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

Editorial oversight provided by Associate Professor Loke Kah Yin, Head & Senior Consultant, Division of Paediatric Endocrinology, Khoo Teck Puat - National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Hospital.
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