Endocrine Disorders In Children

Dr Mohan T Shenoy and Dr Vineetha K Ramdas Nayak explain endocrine disorders in children with a special emphasis on their symptoms, management, and treatment

Endocrine disorders

It has been known for a long that hormones control the growth, development, and reproduction besides playing a critical role in the maintenance of the internal environment, production, utilization and storage of energy. The spectrum of endocrine diseases in children is different from adults. A majority of childhood endocrinopathies are due to underlying structural, functional, or developmental abnormalities. There is also a greater influence of genetic and immunological factors.

Endocrine disorders in children

Endocrine disorders result from overproduction or underproduction or resistance to hormonal action. These may occur at different times in course of the same disease as seen in Type 2 Diabetes and obesity.

Some examples of the classic pediatric endocrine disorders include:

• Congenital hypothyroidism
• Growth hormone deficiency-related short stature
• Vitamin D deficiency-related rickets
• Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
• Type 1 Diabetes
• Pubertal disorders

Congenital hypothyroidism (CH)

It is characterized by prolonged physiological jaundice, weight gain, goiter, dry skin, poor muscle tone, low or hoarse

cry, delay in milestones, and subnormal intelligence. Congenital hypothyroidism can be also part of multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies. This may present as hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels). In some instances of congenital absence of thyroid, lifelong supplementation of oral thyroxin is essential. Therefore, it is mandatory to check TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) levels every 3 months. Trial off-therapy at the age of 3 may be attempted as brain growth is completed. Follow-up with growth charts is useful for picking up delayed growth.