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Warning-sign checks

Growth hormone deficiency - children: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Seek urgent or emergency care for sudden severe headache, sudden vision loss, a seizure, fainting, confusion or difficulty waking.

    A newborn with shaking, unusual sleepiness, poor feeding, breathing problems or seizures may have dangerously low blood sugar and also needs emergency assessment.

    Children known to have adrenal hormone deficiency need their separate emergency plan followed during serious illness.

    Severe weakness, repeated vomiting, dehydration or collapse can signal an adrenal crisis, which is an emergency.

    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
    • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Contact the treatment team promptly if a child using growth hormone develops:

    • Persistent or severe headaches
    • Repeated vomiting
    • Blurred or double vision
    • A new limp or pain in the hip or knee
    • Marked swelling or persistent joint pain
    • Excessive thirst or frequent urination
  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    Arrange a routine appointment if a child appears to be growing much more slowly than before, is falling across height percentiles or has delayed puberty.

    Bring previous height and weight records if they are available.

    A single measurement is less informative than the pattern over time.

    And for anyone, someone who:

    • has noticed a lump, a mole that has changed, or unexplained weight loss

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Growth hormone deficiency - children. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.