Living with Growth disorder
Problems that keep children from developing typical height, weight, or sexual maturity, sometimes linked to a hormone or gland problem.
Understanding Growth disorder
A child who is much shorter or taller than peers may be developing normally, since some children are small or tall because their parents are. Very slow or very fast growth can sometimes signal a gland problem or disease. The pituitary gland makes growth hormone. Too little can make a child very short, and growth hormone treatment can stimulate growth. Too much, usually from a noncancerous pituitary tumor, can cause gigantism in children or acromegaly in adults.
Signs & symptoms
GARD doesn't list specific symptoms for this condition. The summary describes very slow or very fast growth.
- Much shorter than other children the same age
- Much taller than other children the same age
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include genetic specialists and hormone specialists.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- Genetic specialists (geneticists); Hormone specialists (endocrinologists)
- Expert care
- Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with rare disease patient organizations for support
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
Causes include too little or too much growth hormone from the pituitary gland, which is usually from a noncancerous pituitary tumor when there is too much. GARD also lists changes in genes as a cause.
Also known as: genetic endocrine growth disease; Hereditary endocrine growth disease
Patient organizations
Rare-disease groups that can help
- Global GenesRare Diseases · United States
- National Organization for Rare DisordersRare Diseases · United States
- Genetic AllianceRare Diseases · United States
- RARE FoundationRare Diseases · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Growth disorder.
Explore research for Growth disorder
Explore actively recruiting Growth disorder studies with HealthSpark.
Find actively recruiting studies for Growth disorder with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.
- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
- Share your city to look for research near you
- Eligibility is confirmed by the study team
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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.
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