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Detailed information on thalassemias, including alpha thalassemia, beta thalassemia (Cooley's anemia)

Diabetes insipidus is a condition caused by not enough antidiuretic hormone (ADH) in the body. ADH is also known as vasopressin. This is a hormone that helps the kidneys keep the correct amount of water in the body. The condition is also called “water diabetes.”

Diabetes occurs when not enough insulin is made, or when the body is unable to use the insulin that is made. The three main types of diabetes are type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.

It's important to learn about correct meal planning when your child has diabetes. The type and amount of food your child eats affects their blood sugar levels.

Growth hormone (GH) deficiency is when the pituitary gland doesn't make enough growth hormone. GH is needed to stimulate growth of bone and other tissues. This condition can occur at any age. GH deficiency does not affect a child's intelligence.

Puberty that happens early is called precocious puberty. Gonadotropin-independent precocious puberty is caused by early secretion of high levels of sex hormones. These include the male androgens and female estrogens.

Graves disease is an autoimmune disease. The immune system normally protects the body from germs with chemicals called antibodies. But with an autoimmune disease, it makes antibodies that attack the body’s own tissues. With Graves disease, antibodies cause the thyroid gland to make too much thyroid hormone. This is known as hyperthyroidism. Extra thyroid hormone in the bloodstream leads to the body's metabolism being too active.

A growth problem means that a child falls either below or above the average range of growth for a child's age, sex, family history, or racial background.

Hyperparathyroidism is when the parathyroid glands make too much parathyroid hormone. The condition is rare in children.