When the pituitary gland produces too much growth hormone during adulthood, the hormonal disorder acromegaly occurs, which usually affects middle-aged adults and increases the size of the bones, including the hands, feet and face.
Too much growth hormone in children who are still growing can cause a condition called gigantism, in which they have exaggerated bone growth and an abnormal increase in height.
Available treatments for ... more
Also known as a strawberry hemangioma, a hemangioma is a birthmark that appears as a bright red patch or a nodule of extra blood vessels in the skin. Birthmarks come in all shapes and sizes. Usually, a hemangioma grows during the first year of life and then recedes over time. It isn't associated with other medical conditions, and is usually benign.
A child who had a hemangioma in infancy, by the age of 10 will have a little visible ... more
Neural tube defects is the name of the group of birth defects that spina bifida is a part of. The embryonic structure that ultimately develops into the baby's brain and spinal cord and the tissues that enclose them is what is meant by the neural tube.
The neural tube forms early in the pregnancy and after 28 days of conception, it closes. In babies with spina bifida, there will be defects in the spinal cord and in the bones of the ... more
In Guillain-Barre syndrome the body's immune system attacks the nerves. This is an uncommon disorder, the first symptoms of which is weakness and numbness in the extremities. These are sensations that could spread quickly and end up paralyzing the whole body.
In most cases, Guillain-Barre syndrome follows an infectious illness, including the stomach flu and a respiratory infection. However, the exact cause of this syndrome ... more
The sudden and involuntary contraction of one or more of the muscles is known as a muscle cramp. Intense pain can be caused by muscle cramps and one becomes temporarily unable to use the affected muscles.
Overuse of muscles and dehydration during physical activity in warm weather are common causes of muscle cramps. Muscle cramps may be caused by some medications and certain medical conditions as well.
Usually, muscle cramps can be ... more
The condition in which the body doesn't produce enough of the hormone testosterone, which is the hormone that plays a key role in masculine growth and development during puberty, is called male hypogonadism.
Someone may be born with male hypogonadism, or it may develop later in life from injury or infection. The cause of male hypogonadism and at what point in one's life it occurs are the things that the effects and ... more
