Raizada Nishant, Nonglait Phibakordor L.
Associate Professor and Head, Department of Endocrinology, Center for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi, India
Senior Resident, Department of Endocrinology, Center for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi, India
Pediatric endocrine disorders are frequently seen in tropical countries. While broadly the spectrum of pediatric endocrine disorders in the tropics is not entirely different from that seen in other parts of the world, some aspects of these disorders are unique to the tropics. Many pediatric endocrine disorders are underreported from the tropics, presumably because of limited access to medical care in terms of both diagnostic and therapeutic facilities. Lack of formal training of pediatricians and physicians in pediatric endocrinology may be a contributor. Some conditions such as exogenous Cushing syndrome are seen very frequently in tropics because of easy access and unrestrained use of glucocorticoids by quacks/ faith healers. Malnutrition is an important contributor to short stature in many tropical countries where a large section of the population is living in abject poverty. Iodine deficiency disorders are seen in many countries despite iodine fortification of salt or other edible items. Lack of universal screening for congenital hypothyroidism often leads to late detection of this disorders contributing to significant morbidity and mortality. Vitamin D deficiency and nutritional rickets is rampant even in areas where sunlight is abundant year around. Since most of the pediatric endocrine disorders are easily treatable and can have severe consequences when diagnosis or treatment is delayed, increasing the awareness of these disorders in the healthcare workers in the tropics is necessary. For complete coverage of all related areas of Endocrinology, please visit our on-line FREE web-text, WWW.ENDOTEXT.ORG.
小儿内分泌疾病在热带国家很常见。虽然总体而言，热带地区小儿内分泌疾病的范围与世界其他地区所见的并无完全不同，但这些疾病的某些方面在热带地区是独特的。热带地区许多小儿内分泌疾病报告不足，大概是因为在诊断和治疗设施方面获得医疗服务的机会有限。儿科医生和内科医生缺乏小儿内分泌学方面的正规培训可能是一个原因。一些疾病，如外源性库欣综合征，在热带地区很常见，因为江湖郎中/信仰治疗师很容易获得并无节制地使用糖皮质激素。在许多热带国家，营养不良是导致身材矮小的一个重要因素，那里有很大一部分人口生活在赤贫之中。尽管盐或其他食用物品进行了碘强化，但许多国家仍存在碘缺乏疾病。缺乏对先天性甲状腺功能减退症的普遍筛查常常导致这种疾病的延迟发现，从而导致显著的发病率和死亡率。即使在全年阳光充足的地区，维生素D缺乏和营养性佝偻病也很普遍。由于大多数小儿内分泌疾病很容易治疗，但如果诊断或治疗延迟可能会产生严重后果，因此提高热带地区医护人员对这些疾病的认识是必要的。如需全面涵盖内分泌学的所有相关领域，请访问我们的在线免费网络文本，网址为WWW.ENDOTEXT.ORG。
