Many of the disorders associated with the endocrine system take years to develop and are most commonly seen in adults. However, some conditions can begin in infancy and childhood. If you notice any of the following symptoms in your child, call your pediatrician to discuss. Your child’s doctor may order special tests to find out what’s going on, and you may be referred to a Rainbow endocrinologist for further tests and treatments.
Your pediatrician will want to see your child for any of the following combinations of symptoms that may signal an endocrine or metabolic disorder:
- Increased thirst and frequent need to urinate, especially at night. These are the two classic symptoms of diabetes, related to a high level of blood sugar that the kidneys can’t reabsorb. The sugar carries water along with it, drawing it out from your child’s body and leaving him feeling thirsty and dehydrated and needing to urinate frequently.
- Any of these other possible symptoms of diabetes, especially if combined with increased thirst and frequent urination, should be brought to your pediatrician’s attention:
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- weight loss
- increased hunger
- blurred vision
- sores that heal slowly
- numbness in the hands or feet
- swollen gums
The following combinations of symptoms are also strong indicators that you should ask your pediatrician to evaluate your child’s condition:
- Rapid heartbeat, sweating, confusion, hunger, headache, dizziness—especially if they develop over several months and can be relieved by eating
- Watery diarrhea, stomach pain relieved by eating, vomiting, weight loss. Sore tongue, weight loss, body rash, high blood sugar.
- Fast childhood growth that stops early, penis enlargement in male infants or clitoris enlargement in female infants. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia—the most widespread adrenal gland condition seen in infants and children—may be the cause of these symptoms.
- Weakness, feeling slow and lightheaded, weight loss, salt craving, decreased appetite, skin darkening, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle and joint pain.
If you find any of the above symptoms in your child, call your pediatrician—you may need testing to determine if your growing child is having problems related to his endocrine system or metabolism.