Neonatal endocrinology

Neonatal endocrinology is a diverse topic. Several chapters could be devoted to the endocrinology of fetal transition alone. The next several pages contain a brief overview of some pertinent illnesses. It is intended not to give an absolute map in the care of these patients but to help guide the physician in tailoring an approach for each patient based on current theories and practice parameters. It could also aid in improving the physician's understanding of screening laboratories used to identify those infants at risk of preventable, treatable and potentially disastrous diseases (i.e. congenital hypothyroidism). These metabolic screens are discussed due to their efficacy in the United States. In our experience, depending on the prevalence of a specific disease a few simple procedures allow for an efficient and economic way to reach ill children in a timely fashion. Other topics included in this article were reported based on their common occurrence, the lethality of illnesses if undiagnosed or their unique treatment. In the neonate hypoglycemia, either iatrogenic or secondary to sepsis, a congenital disorder of neisidioblastosis can have severe implications on the development of the CNS if not promptly treated and prevented. Some of these disorders require an experienced endocrinologist or neonatologist to treat and supervise conscientiously (i.e. CAH). However, as most of us know, it is sometimes hard to find such an individual in a community based practice. Therefore, it becomes of paramount value that each of us pays attention to the treatment of these illnesses for the sake of the children we care for.