Common Paediatric Hormonal Conditions
Growth Assessment and Short Stature
Growth assessment is crucial in these cases:
Growth assessment is crucial in these cases:
- Child failing to thrive.
- Growth on low percentiles differing from family patterns.
- Faltering growth (slow height increase).
- Changes in growth pattern (slowing or speeding up).
- Concerns about potential adult height.
Childhood Obesity
Significant overweight for age and height, linked to medical conditions, environmental factors, nutritional habits, or hormonal imbalances. Elevated weight requires screening for hormonal and metabolic issues due to risks like insulin resistance, diabetes, high blood pressure, and elevated cholesterol.
Significant overweight for age and height, linked to medical conditions, environmental factors, nutritional habits, or hormonal imbalances. Elevated weight requires screening for hormonal and metabolic issues due to risks like insulin resistance, diabetes, high blood pressure, and elevated cholesterol.
Puberty
- Precocious Puberty: Early development of secondary sexual characteristics before age 8 in girls or 9 in boys.
- Delayed Puberty: Absence of sexual maturity signs by age 12 in girls or 14 in boys.
Thyroid Conditions
The thyroid gland regulates metabolism and can affect growth and general wellbeing. Conditions include:
The thyroid gland regulates metabolism and can affect growth and general wellbeing. Conditions include:
- Congenital Hypothyroidism: Lack of thyroid hormone production from birth.
- Acquired Hypothyroidism: Insufficient thyroid hormone production due to autoimmune processes or other conditions.
- Hyperthyroidism: Excess thyroid hormone production.
- Thyroid Nodules: Lumps in the thyroid gland.
- Goitre: Enlargement of the thyroid gland.
Diabetes
Elevated blood glucose with symptoms like lethargy, frequent urination, and increased thirst. Types include Type 1, Type 2, monogenic diabetes (MODY), congenital, and pancreatic insufficient diabetes.
Elevated blood glucose with symptoms like lethargy, frequent urination, and increased thirst. Types include Type 1, Type 2, monogenic diabetes (MODY), congenital, and pancreatic insufficient diabetes.
Hormone Stimulation Tests
Used when endocrine conditions can’t be diagnosed by simple blood tests. Includes tests for growth hormone deficiency, precocious or delayed puberty, and adrenal insufficiency. Performed in specialized centres with intravenous lines and timed hormone level measurements.
Used when endocrine conditions can’t be diagnosed by simple blood tests. Includes tests for growth hormone deficiency, precocious or delayed puberty, and adrenal insufficiency. Performed in specialized centres with intravenous lines and timed hormone level measurements.
Hyperandrogenism
A disorder in young females causing menstrual irregularity, excess hair growth, acne, and obesity. The cause needs to be investigated and treatment depends on hormonal imbalance evaluation by a paediatric endocrinologist.
A disorder in young females causing menstrual irregularity, excess hair growth, acne, and obesity. The cause needs to be investigated and treatment depends on hormonal imbalance evaluation by a paediatric endocrinologist.
Other Hormonal Conditions
- Adrenal Abnormalities: Including congenital adrenal hyperplasia and adrenal insufficiency.
- Atypical Genitalia: Abnormal development of external reproductive organs.
- Hypoglycaemia: Low blood sugar.
- Bone Health Issues: Problems with calcium or phosphate levels, bone dysplasia, or low vitamin D.
- Overproduction of Hormones: Includes gigantism, prolactinemia, and Cushing syndrome.
- Endocrine Syndromes: Genetic conditions with hormonal manifestations like Turner syndrome, Noonan syndrome and Klinefelter syndrome.