Pediatric endocrinology (British: Paediatric) is a medical subspecialty dealing with variations of physical growth and sexual development in childhood, as well as diabetes and other disorders of the endocrine glands.
Pediatric endocrinology (British: Paediatric) is a medical subspecialty dealing
with variations of physical growth and sexual development in childhood, as well
as diabetes and other disorders of the endocrine glands.
By age, pediatric
endocrinologists, depending upon the age range of the patients they treat, care
for patients from infancy to late adolescence and young adulthood.
By
disease, the most common disease of the specialty is type 1 diabetes, which
usually accounts for at least 50% of a typical clinical practice. The next most
common problem is growth disorders, especially those amenable to growth hormone
treatment. Pediatric endocrinologists are usually the primary physicians
involved in the medical care of infants and children with intersex disorders.
The specialty also deals with hypoglycemia and other forms of hyperglycemia in
childhood, variations of puberty, as well other adrenal, thyroid, and pituitary
problems. Many pediatric endocrinologists have interests and expertise in bone
metabolism, lipid metabolism, adolescent gynecology, or inborn errors of
metabolism.