Epidemiology

The most common endocrine disorders, excluding diabetes mellitus, are:

• thyroid disorders, affecting 4-8 new patients per primary care physician each year (the most common problems are thyrotoxicosis, primary hypothyroidism and goitre)
• subfertility, affecting 5-10% of all couples, often with an endocrine component
• menstrual disorders and excessive hair growth in young women, most commonly polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• osteoporosis, especially in postmenopausal women largely owing to gonadal steroid deficiency
• primary hyperparathyroidism, affecting about 0.1% of the population
• disorders of growth or puberty.

While most other endocrine conditions are uncommon, they often affect young people and are usually curable or completely controllable with appropriate therapy.

Hormones as therapy

Hormones are also widely used therapeutically:

• The oral contraceptive pill is the choice of perhaps 20-30% of women aged 18-35 years using contraception.
• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT; oestrogens ± progestogens) may be used for control of menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women .
• Corticosteroid therapy is widely used in non-endocrine disease such as asthma.

Symptoms

Hormones produce widespread effects upon the body, and states of deficiency or excess typically present with symptoms that are generalized rather than focused on the anatomical location of the gland. Many endocrine symptoms are diffuse and vague, and the differential diagnosis is often wide. Symptoms of tiredness, weakness or lack of energy or drive and changes in appetite or thirst are common presentations of endocrine disease, and other typical ‘hormonal’ symptoms include changes in body size and shape, problems with libido and potency, periods or sexual development, and changes in the skin (dry, greasy, acne, bruising, thinning, thickening) and hair (loss or excess). Endocrine disorders should be always considered when assessing any patient with these common complaints.

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1. [...] … Primary hyperparathyroidism occurs in about one of 700 individuals and is the one of the …Health Nova: Your Ultimate Medical Portal ENDOCRINE DISEASE …primary hyperparathyroidism, affecting about 0.1% of the population. disorders of growth … [...]

   Pingback by primary hyperparathyroidism — April 2, 2010 @ 4:05 am

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