What are the endocrine glands in children?
The endocrine glands in children are considered one of the most important organs in their bodies, as they are a group of glands responsible for many body functions, including growth functions, through a group of hormones that they secrete to control body processes and functions, and therefore endocrine disorders in children.
The endocrine glands include
the pituitary gland
Adrenal
The thyroid gland and parathyroid glands
Testis and ovaries
And since the occurrence of any endocrine disorders in children affects them negatively, we will explain to you in the article some of these disorders and the analysis and treatment of endocrine glands in children
Endocrine disorders and childhood diabetes
Childhood diabetes is the most common of these disorders, especially in modern times, when blood sugar levels are disturbed due to a defect in the production of the hormone insulin or a defect in its effect on the body.
Among the most common symptoms of endocrine problems in children are weight loss, excessive urination, and extreme thirst. Diabetes treatment varies according to its type, either by taking blood sugar-regulating tablets or insulin injections, or by organizing a healthy diet and exercising.
Gigantism and acromegaly
This disease is one of the most common disorders of the glands in children, as an increase in growth occurs as a result of an increase in the pituitary gland secretion of growth hormone in children before and after puberty, and its cause is often due to the presence of benign tumors in the pituitary gland in children.
Symptoms of endocrine problems in children include enlarged bones of the head, hands, arms, legs, and feet.
Short stature due to endocrine disorders
This disease results from a lack of growth hormone secreted by the pituitary gland, and in many cases the cause of this hormone deficiency remains unknown.
Children also suffer from weakness in body growth in general, as well as delayed eruption of teeth, in addition to short stature. Short stature is treated by compensating for the deficiency in growth hormone.
Precocious puberty as a result of endocrine disorders
Precocious puberty is one of the endocrine disorders in children, in which puberty occurs in male children before the age of 9 years, and in females before the age of 8 years. At this stage, a change in the shape of the body and its ability to reproduce occurs, and its signs include the following:
The appearance of acne.
Underarm and pubic hair growth.
Increase the size of the breasts in females, and the size of the testicles and penis in males.
Hoarseness of the voice in males.
Descent of the menstrual cycle in females.
Delayed puberty in children
There may be a delay in puberty in children for many reasons, the most important of which is the occurrence of endocrine disorders in children, either due to a defect in the secretion of pituitary hormones or due to a defect in the secretion of male or female hormones.
The signs of puberty are delayed in appearing in children, and males are more affected by this problem than females. Delayed puberty is treated due to hormonal disorders by providing male patients with testosterone and female patients with estrogen, as hormones help start puberty.
