What is the difference between giantism and acromegalia?
Gigantism and acromegaly are disorders associated with excessive action of growth factor of similar insulin or IGF-1. Gigantism occurs when abnormally high growth occurs during childhood, when the growth inserts of the epipheseal are open, while the acromegaly is caused by the same action that occurs in adulthood when the fusion growth boards are fusion. Abnormality in the pituitary results in excessive secretion of growth hormone, which leads to bones in adults and also leads to excessive height in children.
The occurrence of gigantism and acromegaly is relatively rare than the first than one that is even more. The excessive amount of growth hormone, or GH, releases the pituitary gland, which results in a change in the way the body processes and uses nutrients. Epiffys or bone growth plates are still open in childhood, which means that chemical changes in acromegaly result in abnormal long bone growth. Gigantism and acromegalenej are mostly causederous tumor in the pituitary. Facial features such as the jaw line, forehead and nose grow and rough. Inside the mouth, the tongue increases and the teeth have more space in the jaw to spread wide.
In children and teenagers, another symptom of bone extension and enlargement will be obvious. Other symptoms of gigantism and acromegaly include oily skin, sweating, high blood pressure and coarser hair. Headaches, arthritis and muscle weakness are some of the side effects shared by the condition.
The most common age of the onset of gigantism is puberty, but there are cases where younger children have been influenced. Normally the pituitary releases GH after receiving the direction of Dypothalamus, which produces hormone releasing growth hormones or GHRH. Hypothalamus also gives the pituitary signal to stop producing GH, but in the case of acromegaly, this direction is ignored. As a result, the liver produces too much IGF-1 and bones, organs and enlargement softtissue and are influenced by nutrient processing such as fats and sugars.
One of the differences between giantism and acromegalia is the speed at which the effects become obvious. Changes in acromegaly are relatively slow and changing and gross facial features can only notice someone who is not familiar to a person who is affected, such as a new doctor who is trained to observe or notify these things. Gigantism, on the other hand, is more dramatic with a major change in a short time.
The sooner the diagnosis of gigantism and acromegaly is made, the immediately the treatment can begin and prevent more serious symptoms. Treatment usually includes the removal of the part or the entire pituitary adenoma if it was the cause. Other medicines are also necessary in the form of drugs. Acromegaly can be successfully managed, but it is a lifelong condition.