In children, an excess of growth hormone results in which condition?

In children, an excess of growth hormone leads to gigantism, a condition characterized by excessive growth and height due to an overproduction of growth hormone, typically caused by a tumor in the pituitary gland. Unlike adults, whose growth plates have fused, children still have open growth plates. Consequently, the impact of excess growth hormone results in increased height along with other changes in body composition.

Gigantism is specifically marked by not only increased stature but also proportional growth of the arms, legs, and other body parts. Immediate growth hormone effects occur before these growth plates close at the end of puberty, so children experiencing this hormonal imbalance can grow significantly taller than their peers.

In contrast, conditions like acromegaly, while also linked to excess growth hormone, occur in adults where the growth plates are closed, leading to a different pattern of enlargement mainly affecting facial features and hands. Hypoglycemia refers to low blood sugar levels and is not related to excess growth hormone. Cushing's disease involves excess cortisol, not growth hormone, further differentiating it from conditions related to growth hormone abnormalities.