When hormone-producing glands malfunction, it can affect children's metabolism, growth, and development. Paediatric endocrinologists diagnose and treat these issues, helping kids regain their health.

Paediatric endocrinology involves evaluating and treating children with known or suspected endocrine conditions. The endocrine system includes a wide range of glands, such as the adrenal, thyroid and pituitary glands. When any of these glands are affected, the hormones secreted by the glands are imbalanced. This can cause disorders such as Turner syndrome, growth hormone deficiency, delayed or early onset of puberty, thyroid conditions and diabetes.

Our paediatric endocrinologists take extra care to reassure our young patients and communicate with parents at all stages of treatment to keep them well informed of our treatment approaches.

The endocrine system releases hormones into the bloodstream, regulating various aspects of the human body, such as growth, mood, and metabolism. At Narayana Health, paediatric endocrinologists are dedicated to diagnosing and treating various endocrine disorders in children and adolescents. The paediatric endocrinology team collaborates closely with allied specialists within Narayana Health, ensuring comprehensive and holistic patient care and treatment.

Most Common Problems Among Children 

Here are some common reasons for which parents search for the best paediatric endocrinologist.

Diabetes in Children

Type 1 diabetes in children ceases the production of the hormone insulin in their body. Type 2 diabetes in kids affects how their body processes glucose to get energy.

Signs of type 1 diabetes in kids are:

Increased thirst
Too much hunger
Frequent urination including bed-wetting
Exhaustion
Unintentional weight loss
Fruity-smelling breath
Behavioural changes or irritability

Apart from the above signs, the symptoms of type 2 diabetes in kids include:

Blurry vision
Darkened patches of skin, commonly around the groin and armpits or the neck
Frequent infections

Treatment for type 1 diabetes in little ones includes monitoring blood sugar, taking insulin, exercising regularly, and eating healthy foods. For type 2 diabetes in children, treatment includes these as well as weight-loss surgery (in a few cases).

Thyroid Disease

The pituitary gland in the brain secretes the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) which regulates the production of the thyroid hormone from the thyroid gland. When TSH levels go high, levels of the thyroid hormone fall below normal, causing hypothyroidism. Reversely, when TSH levels fall, levels of the thyroid hormone spike up, leading to hyperthyroidism.

The most common thyroid conditions that kids develop are:

Hyperthyroidism
Hypothyroidism
Thyroid nodules
Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2
Differentiated thyroid cancer
Medullary thyroid cancer

We have expertise in treating young patients with hypothyroidism and provide them with lifelong support if needed. Our other treatment methods include anti-thyroid medication, radioactive iodine ablation, and surgical removal of the thyroid gland (as the last treatment option).

Growth Disorders

A child can develop growth disorders when the endocrine system is affected. The thyroid hormone helps bones grow normally. The pituitary gland which is part of the endocrine system secretes the growth hormone among many hormones. When the brain or the pituitary gland is injured, deficiencies in this hormone can happen. Cushing syndrome can cause weight gain but impede height. Precocious puberty also occurs due to hormonal problems. It often causes height and body growth to increase beyond normal. However, growth stops early due to which kids with this condition grow up into short adults.

Our treatment for growth disorders in children includes:

Growth hormone injections: They help kids with both Turner syndrome and deficient growth hormones.
Hormone replacement therapy: Replacing the thyroid hormone in the child’s body can help restore the levels of this hormone.

Hormone Deficiency

Deficiency in growth hormone occurs when the pituitary gland produces inadequate growth hormone that fails to stimulate the body to grow properly. This can lead to prominent short stature in kids.

Symptoms include:

Noticeably slow body growth
Immature appearance compared to others of the same age
An underdeveloped nose bridge
A prominent forehead

We typically treat this condition by providing a child with regular injections of synthetic human growth hormone. Treatment generally lasts many years. However, results are usually seen within 3-4 months of beginning the injections. If the cells in a child’s body don’t respond well to the growth hormone, we may inject synthetic human IGF-1 instead.

Puberty Disorders

Puberty begins when the body starts to produce extra levels of hormones associated with emotional and physical changes as a child’s body develops into an adult body. Puberty normally starts in girls between 8 and 13 years. Girls experience changes like a growth spurt, the start of menstruation, pubic hair growth, and breast development. A puberty disorder happens when these changes and processes don’t happen as usual.

Signs may include:

No pubic hair till age 14
No breast development till age 13
Menstruation has not begun by age 16
A gap of 5+ years between the first period and breast development
Signs of puberty are seen before 7 or 8 years of age

Kinds of puberty disorders:

Precocious puberty (starts too early)

Delayed puberty (that has not begun by age 13)
Premature adrenarche (appearance of pubic hair without other puberty signs)
Premature menarche (onset of periods without other puberty signs)
Premature thelarche (breast development without other indications of puberty)
Contrasexual pubertal development (females developing male features)

Treatment includes:

Observation and regular checkups (when the condition resolves by itself)
Hormone therapy
Surgery (to make anatomical corrections)
Counselling

Gonad Disorders

Gonads produce hormones like testosterone, progesterone, and oestrogen associated with different body functions including reproduction. Female gonads are ovaries that produce female hormones and eggs. Male gonads are testicles that produce sperm and testosterone.

Hormonal dysfunctions can cause gonad disorders, such as:

Paediatric gonadal dysgenesis: Babies born with this condition have two different gonads, which hampers the regular production of sex hormones.
Hypogonadism: It is marked by the gonads not producing enough hormones which can disrupt reproductive functions or development.

We treat gonad disorders in children depending on the underlying problem. We try to address signs of hormonal imbalance by performing the necessary hormone therapy.

Pituitary Disorders

They include paediatric endocrinology diseases like hypopituitarism, Cushing’s syndrome, pituitary tumours, and more. Neonatal hypopituitarism is a common paediatric pituitary condition characterised by an underdeveloped pituitary gland. Since this gland secretes hormones that stimulate other endocrine glands, pituitary disorders can affect adrenal functioning, skin pigmentation, body growth, thyroid functioning, and sexual development.

Symptoms in kids include lethargy, poor growth, low blood sugar, yellow eyes or skin (jaundice), reduced or increased urination, and girls experiencing lactation without being pregnant.

Treatment includes replacing pituitary hormones, medication, microsurgery, conventional surgery, radiation therapy or a combination of them.

Narayana Health houses a proficient team of endocrinologists for paediatrics who are highly qualified with several years of experience in treating paediatric endocrine disorders of various kinds. With our best paediatric endocrinologists, rest assured that your child will be in safe hands and top-notch care. Our paediatric endocrinology services are facilitated by impressive state-of-the-art equipment backed by the latest technology to deliver high-quality treatment.

Our safe environment and friendly staff will make your little one feel comfortable and relaxed. With a reassuring tone, we communicate with our young patients and their parents, so that they know what to expect during the hospitalisation, treatment, and recovery journey.

Paediatric Endocrinology