Nursing Care of a Family When a Child has an Endocrine or a Metabolic Disorder

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from a lecture on endocrine and metabolic disorders in children's nursing care.

Endocrine System

A system composed of ductless glands that work with the neurologic system to regulate and coordinate all body systems by producing hormones.

Hormones

Chemicals produced by endocrine glands that are secreted into surrounding tissue and picked up by the bloodstream to turn on or turn off various organ functions.

Pituitary Gland

An endocrine gland directed by the hypothalamus that stores and releases eight different hormones, including ADH, thyrotropin, corticotropin, and somatotropin.

Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)

A pituitary hormone that helps regulate fluid volume by regulating urine output; secreted by the neurohypophysis and targets the kidney.

Corticotropin (ACTH)

A pituitary hormone that stimulates the adrenal gland to produce glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid hormones; secreted by the adenohypophysis and targets adrenal glands.

Somatotropin (Growth Hormone [GH])

A pituitary hormone that increases bone and cartilage growth by increasing the gastrointestinal absorption of calcium; secreted by the adenohypophysis and acts on all body cells.

Thyrotropin (TSH)

A pituitary hormone that stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones (thyroxine and triiodothyronine); secreted by the adenohypophysis and targets thyroid gland.

Growth Hormone Deficiency (Hypopituitarism)

A condition where children are not able to grow to full size due to deficient production of human growth hormone. Face appears infantile and teeth may be crowded.

Growth Hormone Excess

An overproduction of GH usually caused by a benign tumor of the anterior pituitary, leading to excessive growth if it occurs before the epiphyseal lines close.

Acromegaly

Enlargement of the bones of the head and soft parts of the hands and feet, which becomes evident after epiphyseal lines close due to GH excess.

Diabetes Insipidus

A disease in which there is decreased release of ADH by the pituitary gland, causing less reabsorption of fluid in the kidney tubules and leading to dilute urine.

Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone (SIADH)

A rare condition in which there is overproduction of ADH by the posterior pituitary gland, resulting in a decrease in urine production and water intoxication.

Thyroid Gland

Gland located at the front of the neck responsible for controlling the rate of metabolism in the body through the hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3).

Congenital Hypothyroidism

Thyroid hypofunction causing reduced production of both T4 and T3 at birth, often due to an absent or nonfunctioning thyroid gland.

Acquired Hypothyroidism (Hashimoto Thyroiditis)

The most common form of acquired hypothyroidism in childhood, caused by an autoimmune phenomenon that interferes with thyroid production.

Hyperthyroidism (Graves Disease)

Over secretion of thyroid hormones by the thyroid gland, often caused by an autoimmune reaction that results in overproduction of IgG.

Adrenal Glands

Two glands located retroperitoneally above the kidneys that protect the body against acute and chronic forms of stress.

Cortisol

A glucocorticoid hormone responsible for glucose and protein metabolism and prevents inflammation, produced by the adrenal glands.

Androgen

A steroid hormone responsible for muscle development, produced by the adrenal glands.

Aldosterone

A mineralocorticoid hormone necessary for sodium and fluid balance, produced by the adrenal glands.

Acute Adrenocortical Insufficiency

Hypofunction of the adrenal gland that occurs suddenly, often following a severe body infection, leading to low blood pressure, dehydration, and hypoglycemia.

Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

A syndrome that is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait, causing the adrenal glands to not be able to synthesize cortisol and overproduce androgen.

Cushing Syndrome

A condition caused by overproduction of the adrenal hormone cortisol, often due to increased ACTH production, leading to fat accumulation and muscle wasting.

Pancreas

An organ with both endocrine and exocrine tissue; the islets of Langerhans form the endocrine portion, secreting glucagon (alpha cells) and insulin (beta cells).

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

A disorder that involves an absolute or relative deficiency of insulin, requiring exogenous insulin for management.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

A separate disease from type 1 diabetes caused by diminished insulin secretion but not by autoimmune factors; often managed with diet or oral hypoglycemic agents.

Hypocalcemia

A lowered blood calcium level that occurs to some extent in all newborns before they begin sucking well, related to phosphorus and calcium levels.

Phenylketonuria (PKU)

A disease of metabolism inherited as an autosomal recessive trait, where the infant lacks the liver enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase.

Maple Syrup Urine Disease

A rare disorder inherited as an autosomal recessive trait, characterized by a defect in metabolism of the amino acids leucine, isoleucine, and valine.

Galactosemia

A disorder of carbohydrate metabolism characterized by abnormal amounts of galactose in the blood and urine, due to a deficiency in the liver enzyme galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase.

Glycogen Storage Disease

A group of genetically transmitted disorders that involve altered production and use of glycogen in the body, leading to an enzyme deficiency that prevents retransformation of glycogen back to glucose.

Tay-Sachs Disease

An autosomal recessively inherited disease in which the infant lacks hexosaminidase A, an enzyme necessary for lipid metabolism, leading to lipid deposits accumulating on nerve cells.

Chvostek Sign

Facial muscle spasm that occurs when the facial nerve is tapped, indicating hypocalcemia.

Central Diabetes Insipidus

A disorder of the posterior pituitary that results from deficient secretion of ADH (Antidiuretic hormone).