Brazilian Toddler With Prader–Willi Awaits Growth Hormone Approval After Family Relocates for Care

Overview

• Melinda, age two and weighing 15 kg, was diagnosed about a month ago and is now under multidisciplinary follow-up in Florianópolis after leaving Acre.
• The family’s private health plan has not yet authorized growth hormone, prompting fundraising efforts to cover an estimated R$2,000–R$8,000 per month if purchased privately.
• Her mother reports classic signs of the syndrome, including poor neonatal sucking, marked hypotonia, delayed motor and speech milestones, persistent hunger, and the need for a strict diet that limits social activities.
• SPW Brasil offers free triage testing and estimates a theoretical 24 patients in Acre, with two confirmed cases known to the association, including Melinda.
• An endocrinologist notes growth hormone, approved since 2000, can improve muscle tone, bone density, and developmental progress but does not restore satiety, and care typically includes lifelong therapies across multiple specialties.