Pediatric Endocrinology is a field of medicine that diagnoses and manages children with disorders of the Endocrine Glands. The Endocrine glands produce hormones like Growth hormone, Testosterone, Estrogen, Insulin, Thyroid Hormone etc.
Children are not just small adults. As growing individuals they have special needs related to growth and development. In addition, their psychological needs are different from those of adults. Hormonal problems affecting growth or sexual development can have significant effects on a child’s physical and emotional well-being. Pediatric Endocrinologists have extensive training and expertise in treating children with endocrine (hormonal) problems such as growth, puberty (sexual development of a child), thyroid, obesity and diabetes etc.
Pediatric endocrinologists are
medical doctors who have had -
Three years of pediatric residency
after MBBS
Two or more years of fellowship training in pediatric endocrinology
TYPES OF PEDIATRIC
ENDOCRINOLOGY DISORDERS
Pediatric Endocrinologists diagnose, treat, and manage
hormonal disorders, including the following:
- Growth problems such as short stature
- Early or delayed puberty
- Enlarged thyroid gland (goiter)
- Underactive or overactive thyroid gland
- Pituitary gland dysfunction
- Disorders of the Adrenal glands
- Abnormalities of the genitalia
- Bone Disorders
- Ovarian and testicular dysfunction
- Menstrual Disorders (Irregular periods)
- Hirsutism (eg. facial hair in girls)/ PCOS (Polycystic ovarian syndrome)
- Diabetes
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- Obesity
- Problems with calcium, Vitamin D (rickets, hypocalcemia) and the Parathyroid Gland