Sănătatea hormonală a copilului, cu prof. univ. dr. Otilia Mărginean #TabletaDeSanatate @TVRTM

In pediatric endocrinology, time is not an ally, but a harsh judge. A delayed analysis or a wrong diagnosis can, unfortunately, mean a definitive condemnation to incomplete physical and intellectual development. In adults, hormones maintain an already established balance. In children, hormones build the body. A hormonal deficiency at 40 years old causes fatigue; at 4 years old, it can permanently stop growth or irreversibly affect the intelligence quotient. Although rarer than in adults, thyroid nodules in children have a higher risk of malignancy (approx. 22-26% of pediatric nodules can be malignant, compared to only 5% in adults). Cases of autoimmune thyroiditis in children have also increased greatly in recent years. It seems that all these dysfunctions are based on environmental factors (pollution, for example) and lifestyle (food additives are the most dangerous when we talk about hormonal disorders). What is the "golden triad" of thyroid tests in children and why is TSH alone not enough? What is the biggest fear of parents related to hormonal treatment for their child ("it makes them fat", "it stops their growth")? What are the first discreet indications that should send a parent directly to a pediatric endocrinologist? These are questions answered by Prof. Dr. Otilia Mărginean, primary care physician in Pediatrics and specialist in Pediatric Endocrinology.