Growth hormone deficiency is a condition resulting in impaired physical growth, caused by a partial or total absence of the growth hormone produced by the pituitary gland. The affected child will have normal body proportions and yet often look younger than his or her peers (Human Growth Foundation, 2000). If other pituitary hormones are lacking, the condition is called hypopituitarism; in children, the term hypopituitarism may be used interchangeably with growth hormone deficiency. The prevalence of this disorder has been estimated to be between 10,000- 15,000 children in the United States and to affect 1 of every 4,000 school-aged children. The congenital form of growth hormone deficiency occurs 3 to 4 more times in boys than girls (Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1998).
Inadequate amounts of the growth hormone, which may stunt a child’s normal growing pattern.