Bma Illustrated Medical Dictionary

allowed to fall out on their own as the

hole in the eardrum closes, 6–12

months after insertion.

group therapyAny treatment of psy-

chological problems in which a group of

patients meets regularly with a therapist.

Interaction among group members is

considered therapeutic. Group therapy

may be useful for people with personal-

ity problems and for sufferers from

alcohol dependence, drug dependence,

anxiety disorders,and eating disorders.

growing painsVague aches and pains

that occur in the limbs of children. The

pains are usually felt at night and most

often affect the calves of children aged

between 6–12. The cause of growing

pains is unknown, but they do not seem

to be related to the process of growth

itself. Growing pains are of no medical

significance and require no treatment.

Limb pain that occurs in the morning,

causes a limp, or prevents normal use

of the limb is not due to growing pains

and should be assessed by a doctor.

growthAbnormal proliferation of cells

in a localized area (see tumour). Also,

an increase in size, usually as a result of

increasing age (see growth, childhood).

growth, childhoodThe increase in

height and weight as a child develops.

The period of most rapid growth occurs

before birth. After birth, although growth

is still rapid in the first few years of life,

especially in the first year, the rate of

growth steadily decreases. Pubertymarks

another major period of growth, which

continues until adult height and weight

are reached,usually at about age 16–17

in girls and 19–21 in boys.

Body shape changes during childhood

because different areas grow at different

rates. For example, at birth, the head is

already about three quarters of its adult

size; it grows to almost full size during

the first year. Thereafter, it becomes

proportionately smaller because the

body grows at a much faster rate.

Growth can be influenced by heredity

and by environmental factors such as

nutrition and general health. Hormones

also play an important role, particularly

growth hormone, thyroid hormones, and,

at puberty, the sex hormones.

A chronic illness, such as cystic fibro-

sis, may retard growth. Even a minor

illness can slow growth briefly, although

the growth rate usually catches up when

the child recovers. In some cases, slow

growth may be the only sign that a child

is ill or malnourished, in which case it

is known as failure to thrive. However,

short staturedoes not necessarily indi-

cate poor health. Abnormally rapid

growth is rare. Usually, it is a familial

trait, but it may occasionally indicate an

underlying disorder, such as a pituitary

gland tumour causing gigantism. (See

also age; child development.)

growth factorAny of various chemicals

involved in stimulating new cell growth

and maintenance. Some growth factors,

such as vascular endothelial growth fac-

tor, which stimulates the formation of

new blood vessels, are important in the

growth and spread of cancers.

growth hormoneA substance that is

produced by the pituitary glandand

which stimulates normal body growth

and development. Growth hormone

stimulates the production of protein in

muscle cells and the release of energy

from the breakdown of fats. Oversecre-

tion of growth hormone results in

gigantismif it occurs before puberty or

acromegalyif it occurs after.

Synthetic growth hormone given by

injection may be used to treat short

staturewhen the cause is a pituitary dis-

order or a genetic disorder.

GROUP THERAPY GROWTH HORMONE

G

LOCATION

Grommet

Incus

GROMMET

Middle

ear

Outer ear

canal

Inner

ear

Eardrum

Malleus

Stapes