Top 10 Commonly Confused Words in Pediatric Endocrinology

Top 10 Commonly Confused Words in Pediatric Endocrinology 1. Hyperthyroidism vs. Hypothyroidism The first pair of words that often cause confusion are hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. While both relate to the thyroid gland, hyperthyroidism is an overactive thyroid, leading to excessive hormone production. On the other hand, hypothyroidism is an underactive thyroid, resulting in insufficient hormone production. Remember, 'hyper' means excessive, and 'hypo' means insufficient. 2. Diabetes Mellitus vs. Diabetes Insipidus Next, we have diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus. Although both conditions involve increased thirst and urination, they are entirely different. Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by high blood sugar levels due to insufficient insulin production or resistance. In contrast, diabetes insipidus is a hormonal disorder where the kidneys can't properly conserve water, leading to excessive urination. Remember, 'mellitus' refers to sugar, while 'insipidus' means tasteless. 3. Precocious Puberty vs. Delayed Puberty Moving on, we encounter precocious puberty and delayed puberty. Precocious puberty refers to the early onset of sexual development before the age of 8 in girls and 9 in boys.