REVIEW ARTICLE: Growth Hormone Deficiency: Navigating the Terrain of Diagnosis and Treatment in Sub-Saharan Africa

West Afr J Med . 2022 Aug 31;39(8):867-873.

Abstract

Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is an important differential diagnosis for short stature, defined as a height percentile below the mean population height. In the developed world well- child visits are commonplace; in a limited resource setting such as Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) this is not the case. As such, the use of anthropometric data for evaluating growth may be compromised. Despite this, clinicians should be aware that sick visits offer an opportunity to gather such data and in spite of the resource constraints which may preclude a complete work up, GHD could be managed effectively when there is a high clinical index of suspicion. This article uses highlights of three cases diagnosed in SSA to address challenges encountered in the course of management to make recommendations in the approach to medical care of a child with suspected GHD.

Keywords: Growth hormone deficiency; Short stature; Sub-Saharan Africa.