KARACHI, July 19: Between 10,000 and 12,000 children in Pakistan suffer from the problems of growth. As a result, they are slightly built and diminutive.

This was stated by two child specialists at a press conference on Saturday. Dr Mohsin Ahmed and Dr Jamal Raza said there could be many reasons for the lack of growth in children.

For one they could be undernourished. “That’s why when problems in growth are suspected, the child’s diet and nutrition should be monitored closely,” said Dr Raza.

The two office-bearers of the Child Growth Society of Pakistan — a registered NGO — stated that another major reason for the lack of growth were hormonal problems like growth hormone insufficiency and thyroid hormone deficiency.

If their problem was not attended to in time, said the two doctors, these children would remain diminutive throughout their lives. This in turn would lead to loss of self-esteem, even mental malaise.

The two doctors said growth hormone (GH), responsible for growth during the middle of childhood years, was secreted by a gland in the brain. Lack of this secretion resulted in severe growth problems.

They said GH could be replaced in children suffering from growth problems. “However, the treatment is rather costly.”

If GH injections were administered to the child, the total monthly cost of his or her treatment ranged between Rs20,000 and Rs25,000. In response to a question, Dr Ahmed and Dr Raza said because the treatment was costly many young patients coming from the middle or lower-middle class families cannot be treated fully.

“Ideally they should get daily injections up to the ages of 16 and 17. But many children are treated for only one or two years because the treatment is so expensive.

“Basically, what happens is that when the parents run out of money, the treatment is stopped.” The two doctors said it was the responsibility of all Pakistanis that no child suffering from an ailment was denied treatment due to lack of resources.

They were of the view that NGOs should address issues in malnutrition and also growth problems among Pakistani children. Awareness initiatives should be launched in schools and philanthropists should come forward to donate the money needed to treat the anxiety-ridden children.