What Is a Pediatric Endocrinologist?

Endocrinologists are doctors who deal with hormones secreted by the endocrine system and any disorders associated with it. However, hormonal disorders are not limited to adults as most people believe. Pediatric endocrinologists deal with and treat physical and sexual developmental problems in children. Diabetes care is also covered by pediatric endocrinologists since insulin is the key hormone in that particular disease.

History

• Pediatric endocrinology is a subspecialty of medicine dating back to the late 1940s. It was created at the pediatric department at John Hopkins Medical School by Lawson Wilkins. Most pediatric endocrinologists have some roots tied back to the work that Wilkins did to found this branch of medicine. Today, there is the Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society which is one of the principle professional associations for this branch of medicine in the world. As the specialty grows, more professional associations are created across the world.

General Duties

• Hormones are important in the body since they control many bodily functions by acting as a signal messenger between different cells. Any imbalance in the hormones may have adverse effects on the body. Pediatric endocrinologists generally treat any hormone-related issues children may have. If a child has problems with growth, puberty, diabetes or disorders related to hormone-producing glands, a pediatric endocrinologist is the one who provides treatment. They must specialize in a slightly different area of endocrinology than those who treat only adults. They undergo special training in order to learn how to deal with growth and development-related hormones since most hormonal problems may be present for life if not properly treated.

Education and Training

• Pediatric endocrinologists must attend four years of medical school just like every other doctor. In addition to their medical education, they must also undergo three years of pediatric residency where they focus on general children-related medical practices. After completing residency and obtaining board certification from the American Board of Pediatrics, they must undergo at least an additional three years of fellowship training to specialize in pediatric endocrinology. Even after they begin practicing their specialty, pediatric endocrinologists often continue their education through research and by keeping up-to-date with the latest developments in the world of endocrinology.

Pediatric Hormonal Disorders

• The conditions treated by pediatric endocrinologists are fairly different from endocrinologists who treat only adults. Children have special needs related to growth and development. Pediatric endocrinologists are sensitive to the physical and emotional well-being of children who experience hormonal disorders. The hormonal disorders in children include growth problems, early or delayed puberty, thyroid disorders, hypo/hyper pituitary or adrenal gland functions, disorders in sexual development, various forms of diabetes, hypoglycemia, obesity and vitamin D related disorders.

Evaluation and Treatment

• Once a pediatric endocrinologist makes a diagnosis on what the underlying hormonal disorder for a child might be, there are a variety of treatments he may administer to the child. The regulation and balance of hormones in the body are of primary importance since too little or too much of any hormone creates problems in the body. These doctors often treat these problems by controlling the production of hormones or replacing them through medication. Adrenal insufficiency, growth hormone problems, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism or early puberty are other common conditions that are treated with medication that replaces or regulates the hormones produced by the body.