Characteristics and Treatment of Common Endocrine Disorders ENDOCRINE SYSTEM Characteristics and Treatment of Common Endocrine Disorders

SEE TABLE 11-4 pg. 235

GIGANTISM and DWARFISM Hyperfunction of pituitary – too much growth hormone In preadolescence – overgrowth of long bones leads to excessive tallness Dwarfism Hypofunction of pituitary in childhood Small size, but body proportions and intellect normal Rx – early diagnosis, injection of growth hormone Read “Did You Know” pg. 227

HYPERTHRYROIDISM Overactive thyroid gland Too much thyroxine leads to enlargement of gland Symptoms – consuming large quantities of food but lose weight Goiter – enlargement of gland Exophthalmos – bulging of eyeballs Rx – partial or total removal of gland, drugs to reduce thyroxine, radiation

HYPOTHYROIDISM Not enough thyroxine May be due to lack of iodine (simple goiter) Symptoms – dry, itchy skin; dry and brittle hair, constipation, muscle cramps at night

TETANY Hypoparathyroidism Symptoms Rx Decreased calcium levels affect functions of nerves Symptoms Convulsive twitching develops, person dies of spasms in the respiratory muscles Rx Vitamin D, calcium and parathormone

DIABETES MELLITUS Cause – decreased secretion of insulin Symptoms – polyuria, polyphagia, polydipsia, weight loss, blurred vision, and possible diabetic coma If not treated, excess glucose in blood (hyperglycemia) and secreted in urine (glycosuria) If too much insulin given, blood sugar can get too low (hypoglycemia) and person can develop insulin shock Type II diabetes is not insulin-dependent – most common, usually familial, occurs later in life, usually treated with diet Test for diabetes – blood sample at home, normal blood sugar is 80-100 mg

DIABETES See Table 11-3 pg. 232 “Medical Highlights” pg. 233