Gigantism: symptoms, causes, treatment, etc. & bull; hello healthy

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Definition

What is gigantism?

Gigantism is a rare disease that causes abnormal growth in children. These changes are generally most evident in height and girth.

Patients with this disease will have an outrageously large appearance like a giant. In addition, people with this condition will generally also experience symptoms such as excessive sweating, joint pain, and thickening of the fingers and toes.

This condition occurs when the pituitary gland in children overproduces growth hormone. This hormone is also called somatotropin. The pituitary gland itself is a small organ located under the brain.

This disease can be controlled by stopping the overproduction of growth hormone in children.

How common is gigantism?

Gigantism is an extremely rare condition. Generally, this disease is more often found in children. There is also a condition of overgrowth of hormones that occurs in some adults, but this condition is known as acromegaly.

Gigantism is a disorder that is motivated by certain risk factors. To find out more about this condition, you can consult your doctor.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of gigantism?

The main signs and symptoms associated with gigantism are being larger and taller than normal people. In addition, there is also an enlargement of certain muscles and organs in the body.

The following are other symptoms that may arise:

• Puberty comes late
• Unusual enlargement of the feet and hands
• Fingers and toes widened and enlarged
• Hands are soft like bread dough
• The forehead and jaw are wider
• The lower row of teeth protrudes forward
• Enlarged tongue, nose and lips
• Men have voices that grow louder
• Skin changes
• Dry skin
• The skin dries up more
• Existence carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)
• Experiencing joint pain
• Headache

More serious signs and symptoms may also occur in people with this disease. Some of them are:

• High blood pressure
• Diabetes mellitus
• Heart disease, such as heart failure due to enlargement

In addition, the body of people with gigantism is at risk of developing tumors in other parts of the body, such as:

• Thyroid cancer, which is found in the majority of sufferers of this disease
• You will also need to undergo a colonoscopy procedure to check for intestinal polyps.

1. Makroadenoma

Macroadenoma is a large tumor found in the pituitary gland. These tumors can press on the surrounding tissues, so that the body with this disease can experience other health problems.

Here are the signs and symptoms:

• Vision worsens because the macroadenoma moves to the brain cavity
• Bitemporal hemianopsia, a condition in which you can only see objects that are right in front of you.
• Cannot see the color as bright as the original

2. Failure of the pituitary gland or hypopituitarism

When the pituitary gland is pressed too hard, your body will actually experience a hormone deficiency, which is known as hypopituitarism.

Common symptoms include:

• Decreased sexual desire and impotence
• Infertility or infertility
• Hair loss in several parts of the body
• Menstrual periods are shorter
• The production of milk in the mother is reduced
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Reduced energy
• Mental health deteriorates
• Dizzy
• Seizures

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

If you have any signs or symptoms above or any other questions, please consult your doctor.

Each sufferer's body shows signs and symptoms that vary. To get the most appropriate treatment and according to your health condition, make sure you always have any symptoms checked by the doctor or the nearest health service center.

What are the complications caused by gigantism?

If this condition is not treated immediately, there are chances of complications in the sufferer. In addition, medication and medical care aimed at dealing with this disease are also at risk of causing complications.

Some of them are:

• Adrenal insufficiency (the adrenal glands don't produce enough hormones)
• Diabetes insipidus (feeling more thirsty and urinating more frequently)
• Hypogonadism (the sex glands produce little or no hormones)

Cause

What causes gigantism?

The main cause of gigantism is a benign tumor found in the pituitary gland. These small glands are located at the base of the brain.

Since humans are born, the human body grows under the influence of hormones produced by the pituitary gland. The hormones that play the most role are the growth hormone HGH or GH (human growth hormone or growth hormone).

Most of the children who suffer from this disease have too much growth hormone production, so that their bodies become taller and bigger than normal people.

The presence of a benign tumor on the pituitary gland, or what is known as an adenoma, can affect the production of this hormone. Generally, the appearance of adenomas is related to health problems that are inherited from family members.

These health problems are:

• McCune-Albright syndrome: a condition that affects hormone-producing (endocrine) tissue
• Carney complex: a condition that causes tumors in body tissues and changes skin pigmentation
• Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1): an inherited disorder that causes tumors in the pituitary gland, pancreas or parathyroid glands
• Neurofibromatosis: an inherited disorder that causes tumors in the nervous system.

Risk factors

What increases my risk for gigantism?

Gigantism is a rare disease that can occur in anyone, regardless of age group and race. However, there are several factors that can increase a person's risk for suffering from this disease.

You need to know that having one or more risk factors does not mean you will definitely suffer from this condition. In some cases, it is possible that you can suffer this disease without any risk factors for yourself.

The following are the risk factors for gigantism:

1. Age

This growth disorder is more common in children, although it does not rule out this condition can be experienced by adults.

2. Suffering from a rare genetic disease

Family members who have certain health conditions, including Sotos syndrome, Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, and Weaver syndrome can increase a person's risk of developing these conditions.

Diagnosis & treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How is gigantism diagnosed?

The doctor will perform blood tests to measure levels of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and an oral blood sugar tolerance test (TTGO). The doctor will ask the child to drink glucose and take a blood sample. Children with gigantism will have the same levels of growth hormone even after absorbing glucose.

Other laboratory tests can be done, such as: estradiol (girls), testosterone (boys), prolactin, and thyroid hormones.

If the doctor detects a tumor in the pituitary gland, imaging tests will be performed to check the size and location of the tumor.

How to treat gigantism?

Gigantism is a condition that can be treated by controlling hormone levels, by bringing hormone levels closer to normal:

1. Treatment

The doctor can give you several drugs to control growth hormone levels. These drugs can stimulate other hormones in the body and reduce growth hormone production.

Medicines can be in the form of pills or injections, such as:

• Octreotide
• Lanreotide
• Bromocriptine
• Cabergoline
• Pegvisomant

2. Operation

Surgery is performed to remove tumors in the pituitary gland. This procedure causes the tumor to shrink and decrease hormone production, although this condition is not serious.

Unfortunately, tumors that are already enlarged cannot be cured only by surgical procedures. Patients must undergo radiation therapy or radiotherapy as a follow-up treatment.

3. Radiation therapy

This procedure can gradually reduce the size of the tumor using light radiation without damaging other tissues.

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be done to treat gigantism?

Gigantism is a very rare condition. However, if your child has this condition, it is important for parents to support and help the child through adversity.

Children should be taught about this condition and its treatment. You can also ask a psychologist or support team to share experiences and understand how to care for your child.

Your child will need a lot of support in order to have a happy and productive life.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.