Contents
Pediatric endocrinology – Here’s what you need to know:
Pediatric endocrinology is a field of medicine that studies how children’s hormones work. Your child’s hormones are made and controlled by the endocrine system. Hormones in your child’s body control many things, like their mood, growth, and body temperature.
Endocrine glands, like the pituitary, thyroid, ovaries, and adrenal glands, make hormones. The blood carries these hormones to different tissues and organs in the body. When your child’s hormones are out of whack, it can cause problems that are sometimes serious and sometimes just annoying.
Issues with the pancreas, pituitary, thyroid or adrenal glands cause most endocrine problems. Tumors or an imbalance in hormones can cause these problems.
The signs that can show when the child is dealing with pediatric endocrine disorders:
The symptoms of an endocrine disorder depend a lot on which gland is affected. The signs of an endocrine disorder can take months or even years. Most kids with pediatric endocrine disorders will show one or more of the following signs.
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Headaches
- Irritability
- Unexplained weight loss/gain
- Failure to meet growth milestones
Some endocrine problems are hard to figure out why they happen. Some things can make your child more likely to get an endocrine disorder. Some of these risk factors are being overweight and your genes.
When should you visit a doctor:
Some problems with your child’s endocrine system may be found during the annual checkups for their health. For example, your child’s doctor may notice that your child isn’t growing as fast as the chart says it should. This is a sign that your child’s hormone system is broken. Seek medical help from Pediatric Endocrinology Hospitals In Coimbatore to ensure the child’s well-being and recovery.
If your child has signs of a problem with their hormones, you should call their doctor. Most likely, they will tell you to see an endocrinologist or a hormone specialist. A paediatric endocrinologist is a doctor who works with kids who have problems with their endocrine glands or hormones.
Here are the few significant disorders that endocrine instability can cause:
Growth disorders:
Many growth disorders can cause your child to be taller or smaller than expected for their age and gender. Some endocrine disorders, like Cushing’s disease or not getting enough growth or thyroid hormones, can cause a person to be too short or too tall.
Thyroid problems:
A thyroid disorder can be present at birth (congenital) or develop later in life. The thyroid may make too little (hypothyroidism) or too much hormone (hyperthyroidism) (hyperthyroidism). Hypothyroidism is treated with pills that replace the thyroid hormone, and hyperthyroidism is treated with other drugs, a radioactive drug, or surgery.
Hyperglycemia:
Hyperglycemia, also called high blood sugar, is when your blood sugar level is higher than your goal. It can be caused by overeating, not getting enough insulin, not moving around as much as usual, stress, or being sick. Sometimes, a child will outgrow the amount of insulin they need, and their glucose levels will be too high. Talk to your child’s endocrinologist to get neonatal hypoglycemia treatment.
Early or late puberty:
Even without a disorder, puberty can be hard for your child. But sometimes, a disorder makes this time even harder. When your child goes through precocious or delayed puberty, the changes that come with sexual maturity happen early or late.
Adrenal gland problems:
There are three layers or zones in the adrenal cortex. Each layer makes a different hormone that has a different job. One layer makes aldosterone, which controls how much salt and potassium are in your body. Another layer makes cortisol, a stress hormone; a third layer makes androstenedione, which is changed into androgen ( male sex hormone). When too much or too little of these hormones are made, problems happen.
Growth issues:
Many things could cause growth disorders in kids, but some are linked to hormonal imbalances. We can find out if your child has a problem with the adrenal glands, the thyroid or parathyroid glands, the pituitary gland, or another problem that can be treated well to restore hormonal balance.
Childhood obesity:
If you don’t do anything about a child’s obesity, it can lead to health problems like diabetes, heart problems, and an increased risk of some cancers. Diet, exercise, and sometimes medicine can help kids lose weight and keep it off so they can live happy healthy lives.
The treatment that might be recommended for children with endocrine issues:
Lifestyle changes:
Your child’s Best Pediatric Endocrinologist may suggest changing your family’s way of life to help your child deal with their symptoms. Some of these are:
- Increasing their sleep
- Exercise
- Change in diet
- Reducing stress
- Emotional support
Medications:
Hormone replacement is often able to help with hormonal problems. Your child’s doctor may prescribe medicines to help them deal with their symptoms and get better from endocrine conditions. This could include taking medicine to control how much hormones their bodies make.
Radioactive iodine:
Your child’s thyroid gland may need to be shrunk. Your doctor may suggest a pediatric endocrinology treatment with radioactive iodine.
When left untreated, endocrine issues can cause severe complications in growing children. Seek medical help at the right time to help your child overcome the disorder to lead a normal life.
