Common Endocrine System Malfunctions

By: Abbigail Fournier and Sasha Halpen

Malfunctions:

This list of malfunctions came from https://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions.

About Type 1 Diabetes:

What causes the malfunction/disease: (viral, lifestyle, etc.)

Type 1 Diabetes is caused by a lack of hormone insulin. A person with type 1 diabetes is unable to produce enough insulin to handle their glucose levels. Genetics can also play a role in the development of type 1 diabetes. It can develop in people who have a particular HLA complex.

Symptoms of the malfunction/disease: (How would people know they were afflicted?)

• Extreme weakness and/or tiredness Extreme thirst—dehydration
• Increased urination
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Blurry vision
• Wounds that don’t heal well
• Irritability or quick mood changes
• Changes to (or loss of) menstruation

Progression of the malfunction/disease: (How does it evolve over time?)

Type 1 Diabetes used to be called juvenile diabetes because most cases were noticed in children. With that being said, there are patients that don’t develop the disorder until they are adults. Type 1 diabetes develops very gradually, however, the symptoms are often very sudden. Over time, patients body’s begin producing less and less insulin. Finally, when there is a low enough level of insulin, the patient's glucose levels rise quickly and the suddenly begin to notice the symptoms.

Risk factors:

• Viral infections
• Race/ethnicity
• Geography
• Family history
• Other autoimmune conditions

Treatment options:

Diabetes patients sometimes have an insulin pump or take insulin injections. They must also monitor their glucose levels regularly and possibly modify their diet to spread their carbohydrate intake throughout the day. In addition, there are various prescriptions that patients can get.

About Growth Disorders:

What causes the malfunction/disease: (viral, lifestyle, etc.)

Growth disorders can be caused by many different things, however, some are caused by malfunctions in the endocrine system. These disorders are caused by a lack of growth hormones produced by the pituitary gland.

Symptoms of the malfunction/disease: (How would people know they were afflicted?)

Child Symptoms:

• Child's face may appear younger than children who are the same age Delayed puberty—but sometimes a child won't go through puberty
• Increased fat around the face and stomach

• Mild to moderate chubbiness

• Slow tooth development
• Sluggish hair growth

Adult Symptoms:

• Anxiety and/or depression
• Baldness (in men)
• Decrease in sexual function and interest
• Decreased muscle mass and strength
• Difficult to concentration and lack of memory
• Dry, thin, skin
• Fatigue and/or tiredness, Very low energy levels
• Heart problems
• High levels of LDL cholesterol
• Insulin resistance
• Reduced bone density

• makes you more susceptible to developing osteoporosis

• Sensitivity to heat and cold
• Weight gain, especially around the waist

Progression of the malfunction/disease: (How does it evolve over time?)

•  Growth disorders only actively affect children that are currently growing, but if the disorder is not addressed, it can cause problems later in life.
• Imbalance of growth hormone can cause adult growth or shrinkage
• Untreated excess growths will remain (tumors, etc.)
• Gigantism and dwarfism are known to result in bullying, thus affecting social and mental health

Risk factors:

•  Fetal alcohol syndrome
• Genetic history
• Prenatal steroid use

Treatment options:

• The most common treatment is growth hormone therapy where they inject growth hormones in the patient.
• Surgery to remove growths
• Drugs to increase or decrease growth hormones

About Hypothyroidism:

What causes the malfunction/disease: (viral, lifestyle, etc.)

• Autoimmune disease
• Surgical removal of part of the thyroid gland
• Radiation
• Congenital
• Thyroiditis (inflammation of thyroid gland)
• Medicines
• Imbalance of iodine
• Damage to pituitary gland

Symptoms of the malfunction/disease: (How would people know they were afflicted?)

• Slowing of body processes (major synonym)
• Chilliness
• Fatigue
• Dry skin
• Forgetfulness
• Depression
• Constipation

Progression of the malfunction/disease: (How does it evolve over time?)

• Lifelong disease may become more or less severe with time
• Medicine dosage may change frequently
• Symptoms can disappear if well managed

Risk factors:

• Family history of hypothyroidism or other thyroid conditions
• Autoimmune disease
• Diabetes
• Treatment for hyperthyroidism
• Radiation

Treatment options:

• Thyroxine (T4) treatment

• A form of hormone replacement

• In-patient treatment

• only for myxedema patients (very severe hypothyroidism)

Sources:
https://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions 

http://indianexpress.com/about/diabetes/

 www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/type-1-diabetes/type-1-diabetes-overview 

 www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/growth-disorders/all

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/163729.php 

http://reviewsdaily.blogspot.com/2015/06/how-to-know-growth-disorders-in-children.html 

http://www.thyroid.org/hypothyroidism/