Paediatric Endocrinology

Common conditions that affect children

• Diabetes: Children, nowadays, are at risk of developing both, type I and type II diabetes. The former is commonly known as juvenile diabetes and is more common. It is marked by the inability of the pancreas to produce sufficient insulin. The latter is known as adult-onset diabetes and it is marked by the inability of the body to produce insulin or utilize the same. Without proper management, the condition can lead to serious complications including increased risks of cardiovascular diseases.
• Thyroid Disorders: These are a group of conditions triggered by abnormal production of thyroid hormone. The child’s body may either produce too much hormone (hyperthyroidism) or too little hormone (hypothyroidism). Since thyroid hormone plays a crucial role in regulating healthy metabolism, growth and development of your little one, these conditions can have a drastic impact on the same. Thyroid problems may be present since birth or developed later, as the child grows.
• Puberty-Related Issues: The onset of puberty can be overwhelming for many children and certain disorders can add to the challenges. These are broadly classified into two types - Early puberty (Precocious puberty) and Delayed puberty (Late puberty). The former may be linked to the early secretion of sex hormones in the child’s body and refers to the onset of puberty in girls who are below 8 years of age and boys who are below 9. The latter refers to delayed sexual development, i.e. after 13 years in girls and 14 years in boys.
• Adrenal Gland Disorders: The term is used for a variety of disorders marked by the inability of the adrenal gland, also known as the suprarenal gland, to produce sufficient cortisol and aldosterone hormones, both of which play crucial roles in the body. This can give rise to conditions like congenital adrenal hyperplasia, adrenal insufficiency, Cushing’s syndrome, Pheochromocytoma and adrenal tumours.
• Pituitary Gland Problems: The pea-sized gland is responsible for producing hormones that regulate vital functions like growth control and overall development. Pituitary gland problems are characterized by insufficient production of these hormones, resulting in various health conditions and disorders like growth hormone deficiency, central precocious puberty, hyperpituitarism and hypopituitarism.

When should you consider seeing our experts?

The symptoms of endocrine disorders vary depending on the type of the problems. It is important to go for a proper medical evaluation if you notice any of the following:

• Abnormal growth and development
• Rapid increase in the childs height
• Delayed or early onset of puberty
• Unusual changes in the child’s physical composition
• Unintended weight gain or weight loss
• Weakness and fatigue
• Excessive thirst
• Frequent urge to urinate
• Delayed development of teeth
• Frequent and persistent headaches

How Endocrine problems are diagnosed in children?

Some endocrine problems are diagnosed during your little one’s wellness exams, while others may be diagnosed through proper medical evaluation of the childs symptoms.

Our team, at Surya Hospital, starts by conducting a thorough physical check-up and going through the childs medical history. Based on these, further tests may be recommended, which include:

• Blood assessment for detecting any hormonal abnormalities
• Imaging tests like MRI and CT scan
• Bone age assessment
• Genetic testing
• Dynamic function test

Treatments

Our department provides a comprehensive spectrum of Pediatric Endocrine treatments and interventions for helping your little ones. These include:

• Hormone Replacement Therapy: This is recommended for children with thyroid hormone deficits or imbalances, growth hormone deficiencies, adrenal hormone inadequacies, or sex hormone deficiencies.
• Diabetes Management: This involves advice on blood glucose monitoring, insulin delivery, dietary alterations, and lifestyle changes.
• Pubertal Management: This involves the management of conditions like delayed puberty, precocious puberty, and sexual development problems.
• Nutritional Counselling: This involves personalized diet plans for managing endocrine diseases such as diabetes, thyroid issues and obesity.
• Genetic Counselling: We offer genetic counselling to children with hereditary endocrine diseases in order to study the inheritance pattern and assess the risk to family members, as well as advice on family planning and genetic testing.