The body contains a system of special glands called the endocrines. These are scattered throughout the body, from the head to the pelvis. They produce important chemicals called hormones. All play a vital part in keeping the body healthy. If too little or too much hormone is produced, then symptoms develop.
Some of these conditions are fairly common, whilst others are rare and will never be seen by the average parent. Some are readily and successfully treated, whilst others are extremely difficult to diagnose and even more difficult to successfully treat.
Many children with symptoms may be referred by family doctors to special centres, usually located in large hospitals, where special investigations may be carried out to help decide the diagnosis; also, facilities are available there to treat the patients. As some of these conditions may continue for a long time, getting linked to a major centre is often the best idea. So, if your family doctor finds your child’s symptoms puzzling and suggests referral to a centre of this nature, go along with this suggestion. In the long run it will be to everyone’s advantage, child and parent, and for the doctor also, who wants the best for the patient.
The endocrine glands that will be discussed here include the pituitary gland, in the brain, which stimulates the activity of other endocrine glands. In the neck are the thyroid gland and the parathyroid glands, located near the back of the thyroids.
The pancreas is situated in the abdominal cavity and is responsible for diabetes, if diseased. The gonads are the sex organs (ovaries in females, testes in males), and these are responsible for some conditions which need care and attention. The adrenal glands are small organs sitting on top of the kidneys; disorders of these are rare but serious.
Phenylketonuria (P.K.U.) is not really related to the endocrines but is included in this section. It is an inherited disease which can now be detected at birth and readily and successfully treated. Early detection of P.K.U. in Australian babies in the past few years is one of the major forward steps in neo-natal care. The results are now strikingly successful—once, a missed diagnosis was responsible for serious forms of mental retardation which could be lifelong.
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