DISEASES AND DISORDERS IN

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
By Group 2
Acromegaly: What is it?
Adults who have a rare disease called acromegaly may have
an excess of growth hormone in their bodies. Growth
hormone, also known as human growth hormone, GH, or HGH, aids in
regulating the body's metabolism and regulates the proper growth of the
tissues, organs, and bones. Children who suffer from gigantism, a
similar disorder, may grow extraordinarily tall. Adults who overproduce
growth hormone do not become abnormally tall because, after puberty,
their long bones stop growing.
 what are the symptoms of acromegaly
The main signs of acromegaly are:

changes to facial features, such as a broadening nose, enlarging jaw and more widely spaced teeth
enlarged lips or tongue
enlarged hands and feet
A pituitary tumour can also cause a range of other problems, such as:

carpal tunnel syndrome, which causes numbness or burning in the hands or feet
high blood sugar levels and diabetes
high blood pressure and heart disease
arthritis
an enlarged thyroid gland
headaches or vision problems
thick oily skin, with excessive sweating
sleep apnoea
tiredness or fatigue
 What causes acromegaly?
Acromegaly is caused by the pituitary gland in the brain producing too much
growth hormone, usually because of a benign tumour in the gland. Pituitary
tumours (also known as pituitary adenomas) tend to grow very slowly.

Very rarely, acromegaly can be caused by hormone-producing tumours in other

parts of the body, such as the lungs, pancreas or adrenal glands.
 What is Addison's disease?
What is Addison's disease?
Addison's disease is a rare condition where the adrenal glands do not produce enough of the
hormones cortisol and aldosterone (both corticosteroids).

Addison's disease is also known as primary adrenal insufficiency.

Secondary adrenal insufficiency occurs when the pituitary gland in the brain does not release
enough of the hormone that stimulates the adrenal gland to release cortisol.

Addison's disease can make people feel weak and tired, but it can also be effectively treated
with hormones to replace those that are missing.
What are the symptoms of
Addison's disease?

Addison's disease develops slowly, usually over

months. The main symptoms are weight loss,
muscle weakness, fatigue, low blood pressure,
and sometimes darkening of the skin in both
exposed and non- exposed parts of the body.
Other Symptoms include:
• loss of appetite
• salt cravings
• low blood sugar
• abdominal pain and muscle or joint
pains
nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea
• irritability and depression
• menstrual periods that become irregular or
stop
• loss of hair
 What causes Addison's
disease?
Addison’s disease may be caused by anything that damages the
adrenal glands, such as:
autoimmune disease, where the immune system attacks some of
the body's own, tissues, infection, cancer, bleeding,
tuberculosis, type 1 diabetes, genetic defects. Secondary
adrenal insufficiency can be caused by anything that affects the
pituitary gland in the brain, such as a tumour. It can also be
caused if you suddenly stop long-term steroid treatment for
other conditions such as asthma or arthritis.
What is an Addisonian
crisis?
Sometimes the symptoms of Addison's disease can appear
suddenly. An Addisonian crisis can occur when an accident or
illness causes symptoms to worsen.
These can include sudden pain in the lower back, legs or
abdomen, low blood pressure, severe vomiting and diarrhoea
and loss of consciousness.An untreated Addisonian crisis can
be fatal. pIn the case of accident, illness, vomiting or diarrhoea,
people with Addison's disease must have their medication
adjusted according to their specific needs.
 How is Addison's disease diagnosed?
Addison's disease can be diagnosed in a
variety of ways, including:
• blood tests to determine hormone levels
a blood sugar test
• x-ray, MRI or CT scan to look at the structure of the adrenal
or pituitary glands
• medical and family history
The symptoms of Addison’s
disease are:
• fatigue (tiredness)
• body aches
• unexplained weight loss •
low blood pressure
• light headedness
• loss of body hair
• skin discolouration
What is adrenal fatigue?
Adrenal fatigue is a term used by alternative health
practitioners to explain tiredness and other symptoms which are
thought to be due to chronic (long-term) exposure to stressful
situations. However, it currently is not a recognised medical
diagnosis. Many studies have failed to prove that adrenal
fatigue is a medical condition.
Adrenal insufficiency
Your adrenal glands sit on top of each kidney. Their role is to
produce hormones, including adrenaline and noradrenaline.
These hormones prepare your body for fight or flight. Adrenal
insufficiency (also called Addison’s disease), is a recognised
medical condition when your adrenal glands don’t make
enough hormones. This can be due to disease or surgery.
Addison’s disease is a rare but serious disease. Some people
think that adrenal fatigue is a mild form of adrenal
insufficiency.
Adrenal insufficiency
Your adrenal glands sit on top of each kidney. Their role is to
produce hormones, including adrenaline and noradrenaline.
These hormones prepare your body for fight or flight. Adrenal
insufficiency (also called Addison’s disease), is a recognised
medical condition when your adrenal glands don’t make
enough hormones. This can be due to disease or surgery.
Addison’s disease is a rare but serious disease. Some people
think that adrenal fatigue is a mild form of adrenal
insufficiency.
What causes adrenal fatigue?
Adrenal fatigue is thought to be caused by ‘overuse’ of the
adrenal glands. This is thought to be due to
ongoing exposure to:
•mental stress
•emotional stress
•physical stress
•The theory of adrenal fatigue was first introduced in 1998 by a
chiropractor. However, at the moment there is no scientific
evidence that this condition exists.
What is congenital adrenal hyperplasia?
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, or CAH, is an inherited group
of conditions that affects the adrenal glands. These glands,
which sit above the kidneys, make hormones such as cortisol,
aldosterone (which helps to regulate salt levels in the body) and
androgens (male sex hormones). In many casesy, a person who
has CAH makes too many androgens and not enough cortisol
and aldosterone.
 What are the types of congenital adrenal
hyperplasia?

There are 2 main types of CAH.

Classic CAH is the more severe form and is usually noticed during infancy or early
childhood. There are 2 types of classic CAH — salt-losing CAH and non-salt
losing CAH.
Non-classic CAH, or late-onset CAH, is the milder form and is usually
noticed in adolescence or early adulthood.
What are the signs and symptoms of congenital adrenal hyperplasia?
Girls with classic CAH can be born with genitals that look more male than
female. Other signs and symptoms of classic CAH in infants include: an
enlarged penis for boys, poor weight gain or, weight loss, dehydration,
vomiting.
Children and adults with either type of CAH
can have:

rapid growth and early puberty, followed by shorter than

average final height
irregular menstrual cycles
infertility
excessive facial or body hair, and a deep voice in females
acne, which can be severe
What is Cushing's syndrome?
Cushing's syndrome is a condition where your body is exposed to too
much of the hormone called cortisol. This can be because your body is
making too much cortisol, or because you have taken a lot of oral
corticosteroid medicines. If you have Cushing's syndrome, it is
treatable. Cortisol is a hormone that is made by the adrenal glands. You
have two adrenal glands, one sitting on the top of each kidney.
Cortisol is involved in many different parts of your body. It is produced
all day, and especially during times of stress. Cushing's syndrome is
most often diagnosed in adults aged between 30 to 50 years. It affects 3
times as many women as men.
The symptoms and signs of Cushing's
syndrome can include:
a rounded face
weight around the torso, shoulders and neck, but thin arms and legs
a hump between the shoulders
high blood sugar or diabetes
high blood pressure
feeling tired or emotional
skin problems like slow healing of wounds, bruising and stretch
marks on the tummy, hips and thighs
brittle bones (osteoporosis)
Other symptoms for women include more hair on the face and body
and irregular periods. Men can have lower libido or erectile
dysfunction.
What causes Cushing's syndrome and
Cushing's disease?
Some people with Cushing's syndrome have a benign tumour in part
of the brain. This tumour tells the adrenal glands to release cortisol.
This condition is known as Cushing's disease. Cushing's syndrome
can also be caused by:

a tumour of the adrenal gland

overgrowth of the adrenal glands
occasionally, a tumour somewhere else in the body
Other people develop Cushing's syndrome from taking corticosteroid
(steroid) medication for a long time.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes mellitus, more commonly known simply as
diabetes, is a health condition where there is too much
sugar in your blood. People with diabetes have difficulty
changing glucose (a type of sugar) into energy. This leads
to high levels of sugar in your blood
(hyperglycaemia).Your blood glucose levels are normally
controlled by a hormone called insulin. Diabetes happens
when your pancreas can’t produce enough insulin or when
your body can’t use the insulin because it’s resistant to it.
Gestational Diabetes
During pregnancy, hormones that give nutrition to your
growing baby reduce the effectiveness of your own
insulin. If your pancreas is unable to produce enough
insulin, your blood glucose levels rise and you get
gestational diabetes. If you have gestational diabetes,
your pregnancy hormones reduce your body’s ability to
use sugar (glucose) properly. This leads to higher-than-
normal levels of sugar in your blood, which can be
unhealthy for both you and your baby.
p
What is Gigantism
Gigantism is a very rare condition. It causes
children to grow faster than normal and grow very tall.
There is treatment for gigantism. Some affected children
may still have symptoms after treatment. They need
regular check-ups with their doctor as they grow.
 Symptoms of Gigantism
The main symptom is faster than normal growth. This means that your child will be unusually tall for their age.
They can also have:

a large head
a very noticeable forehead
a jaw that seems to jut out
unusual features of the face, such as a broad nose
very large hands and feet, with thick fingers and toes
more sweating than usual
a very large appetite
general weakness
Some people also get headaches or a sick feeling in their stomach. Some may have problems with their eyesight or
are slow to get to puberty.
 Causes of Gigantism
The way the body grows through life is controlled by hormones. These hormones are made by the pituitary gland in
the brain. The most important hormone for growth is called growth hormone (GH). Another name is human growth
hormone (HGH).

Most children with gigantism make too much growth hormone. This causes them to grow too much, and too fast.

Gigantism is almost always caused by a benign tumour. The type of tumour is called an adenoma. It grows in the
pituitary gland. There is usually no clear reason why the adenoma occurs. In rare cases, it may be due to a genetic
health issue.

In other cases rare genetic conditions can cause gigantism without your child having an adenoma. Examples include
Sotos syndrome, Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, and Weaver syndrome.

Adults can develop a similar condition to gigantism. It is called acromegaly. Acromegaly also causes growth that is
not normal, but it does not make the person grow taller. It causes other symptoms, such as changes to features of the
face. It can also lead to larger than normal hands and feet.
What is Graves’ desease?
Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disease (immune system
disorder), that causes your thyroid gland to produce too
much thyroid hormone. This happens because your body’s
immune system produces antibodies that attack your thyroid
tissue, causing hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid
gland). It is important that Graves’ disease is diagnosed and
treated early, because the condition can affect your heart
function, bone structure and eyes.
Symptoms of Graves' disease
The symptoms of Graves’ disease may include:

anxiety or irritability
tremors and/or a racing heart
feeling hot and/or sweating
fatigue and/or poor sleep
diarrhoea and/or weight loss
infrequent menstrual bleeding or infertility
About 2 in every 5 people with Graves' disease develop bulging eyes (exophthalmos). This is because the
antibodies that attack the thyroid can also attack the muscles and tissues around your eyes. This is called thyroid
eye disease (TED).

If you have Graves’ disease, you may also develop a goitre, which is a swollen thyroid gland that is visible to
others.

If you’re pregnant and have poorly controlled Graves’ disease, you may have an increased risk of complications,
such as miscarriage and prem
ature birth.
 Common causes of Graves
Disease
It’s not clear what causes autoimmune
illnesses like Graves’ disease. Autoimmune
illnesses are more common in females.
Graves’ disease is more common in females
aged 20 to 40 years and in people who have a
family history of the condition.
What is Hashimoto’s diseases??
Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune condition. In Hashimoto’s
disease, your body’s immune system attacks your thyroid gland,
preventing it from producing enough thyroid hormone. In rare cases,
Hashimoto’s disease can cause you to produce too much thyroid
hormone. Your thyroid gland is a bow-shaped gland near the base of
your throat. This gland produces thyroid hormones. These hormones
influence important body processes such as body temperature, energy
levels and growth.Thyroid hormones are important for your metabolism.
Low thyroid hormone levels may cause a range of symptoms, such as
tiredness, weight gain and intolerance to cold temperatures.
Symptoms of Hashimoto's disease
Hashimoto’s disease can gradually cause a lack of thyroid hormones, known as hypothyroidism. The
symptoms might be mild, or they might be severe.

They include:

fatigue
being unable to stand the cold
weight gain
constipation
muscle pain
dry skin, thin hair and / or brittle nails
low libido
Hashimoto’s disease can also cause cognitive symptoms including:

depression or low mood

an inability to concentrate
poor memory
In some cases, your thyroid gland may become noticeably larger (called a goitre) or it may shrink.
Lumps or nodules may also develop in your thyroid gland.
Causes of Hashimoto's disease
Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune
disease. It occurs when antibodies
from your immune system destroy
your thyroid gland cells, preventing it
from functioning properly. While the
cause of Hashimoto's disease is
unknown, it may run in families.
What is thyroid gland?

Your thyroid is a gland in your neck, near the

base of your throat. Your thyroid gland makes
hormones that help control some of your body’s
metabolic processes, such as your heart rate,
blood pressure, body temperature and weight.
What is PCOS?
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal
condition that affects up to 1 in 10 females in their reproductive
years. It may cause disruptions to the menstrual cycle, skin and
hair changes, as well as cysts
on the ovaries. It is one of the leading causes of infertility, yet
many people don't know they have it — many females with PCOS
are not diagnosed. PCOS can’t be cured, but if you have it, you
and your doctor can manage many of the symptoms.
What is Turner Syndrome?
Turner syndrome is a genetic disorder affecting some females. It
might cause problems with hearing, vision and fertility. It does
not usually affect intellectual ability. Treatment with hormones
can help manage some of the problems.Turner syndrome is a
genetic disorder. This means there has been a change in the
person’s DNA. Normally, a female has two X chromosomes in
each cell. Turner syndrome happens when all or part of one of
these X chromosomes is missing. The change in DNA can affect
the child’s development.
THANK YOU!!