Facial Hair

I am a 20-year-old man. I lack facial hair and look younger than my age. Please advise.

You are suffering from hypothyroidism (low level of thyroid secretion) and gonadal deficiency i.e. inadequate secretion of the hormone testosterone. Dihydrotestosterone — the active form of testosterone — stimulates hair growth in the facial region. As the level of this hormone is low, so you lack facial hair. Please consult an endocrinologist for proper guidance.

Milk secretion

My daughter sometimes observes small drops of milk oozing out from her right breast. She is 20 years old and a spinster. What could be cause for this abnormal phenomenon?

Lactation (milk secretion) is controlled by the hormone prolactin secreted by the hypothalamus (anterior pituitary) of the brain during pregnancy. But after delivery, it’s the reflex action of the constant suckling by the child that helps in continuous secretion of milk. But lactation without pregnancy is definitely abnormal. It could be due to adenoma (benign tumour). It could also be due to primary hypothyroidism. You are required to carry out certain investigations like the estimation of prolactin serum and MRI of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, for proper diagnosis. Consult an endocrinologist at the earliest, as only prolonged medication can cure her.

obesity

I am 19-year-old boy. My lower half is quite heavy, and looks ungainly. I want to shed weight as I want to look smart and handsome. What should I do?

Control your diet and exercise regularly. If the problem still persists, then you may have to undergo an investigation to check the level of testosterone. Another reason for such a problem could be chromosomal defect, i.e. instead of XY chromosome, you may be having XXY chromosome. This condition is termed as Kline-felter syndrome. In such cases, karyotyping or chromosomal study may be done to exclude the 47 or XXY chromosomal pattern, where an extra chromosome is added on to the normal 46 strands. Consult an endocrinologist to exclude such doubts.

goitre

My 10-year-old daughter has developed a painless swelling just below the vocal box. Could you please suggest a remedy?

Your daughter is growing up and so her requirement for thyroid hormone (hormone of maturation and differentiation) has increased. The increased secretion of TSH causes enlargement of thyroid gland, commonly termed as goitre. Such conditions get prevalent due to iodine deficiency. This is because iodine is essential for synthesising thyroid hormone. You need to get her thyroid status evaluated by serum T3, T4 and TSH estimation and Tc (Technetium) scan of the thyroid. Deficiency of this hormone can be corrected by injecting synthetic thyroid hormones. Please consult an endocrinologist.

Protruded eyes

I have been losing weight for the past three months. My eyes have an abnormally protruded appearance. An eye specialist has asked me to consult an endocrinologist. What has happened to me?

Protrusion of the eyeballs is often associated with goitre. Patients also complain of palpitation and profuse sweating. These are symptoms of hyper function of the thyroid gland. It is an auto immune disorder. You are required to check the increased secretion of thyroid hormones by consuming anti-thyroid drugs, after consulting a doctor. Other treatments include decompression of the eye orbit medically by cortico steroids.