Paediatric Endocrinology

Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Endocrinology

Paediatric endocrinology is a subspecialty that deals with hormonal disorders in children occurring from birth to 18 years of age. Hormonal problems in children can occur when one or more of the following organs are affected:

• Thyroid
• Pancreas
• Pituitary
• Adrenal
• Sex organs – testes in males, ovaries in females

1. Thyroid gland

Thyroid gland is required for the normal growth and brain development of the child

If thyroid gland doesn’t produce adequate thyroid hormone the child can have the following symptoms:

• Developmental delay
• Poor feeding in babies
• Lethargy
• Constipation
• Short stature
• Prolonged jaundice in and beyond neonatal period

2. Type 1 Diabetes:

Pancreas is an organ that produces insulin. In type 1 Diabetes mellitus, insulin producing part of the pancreas is destroyed due to antibodies attacking those cells. It is an autoimmune process meaning due to some provoking factor body produces antibodies that attack its own cells.

Symptoms of Type 1 diabetes include:

• Child passing excess urine during both day and night. A child who was previously not bedwetting might start to pass urine at night or wake up to use the toilet.
• Child starts to lose weight
• Child is more thirsty and drinks more water
• If not diagnosed early, can develop more severe symptoms such as
  • Vomiting
  • Abdominal pain
  • Lethargy
  • Fast breathing

Hence it is essential to identify symptoms and start treatment early

3. Obesity

Obesity can be seen in children. There are mainly two types.

One is due to lifestyle namely nutritional obesity

The other is pathological obesity that can occur due to genetic reasons or due to hormonal excess

4. Short stature

5. Puberty occurring earlier than expected (precocious puberty)

6. Features of puberty not occurring at expected age

7. Menstrual problems in teenage girls

8. Calcium and vitamin D related problems

Services offered in this department

• Treatment for type 1 Diabetes mellitus (insulin therapy, diet and lifestyle management)
• Obesity clinic
• Treatment of short stature including usage of growth hormone wherever applicable
• Treatment of precocious puberty including usage of GnRH analogues wherever applicable
• Turner syndrome management
• Management of all types of thyroid disorders
• Adolescent PCOS
• Endocrine dynamic testing

What are commonly done investigations in endocrine practice

• Specific blood tests depending on the clinical features
• X-ray of hand to see the bone age
• MRI brain in cases of short stature and precocious puberty