5 year old boy grows mustache due to corticoid abuse
One month after receiving a corticosteroid injection to treat bronchitis, the baby ate unusually well, had a heavy face, and developed a mustache.
A child in Son La was taken by his family to the Central Endocrinology Hospital (Hanoi) for examination due to obesity, heavy face, hair growth and thick hair on the face and lips.
Four months ago, the baby had a cough and fever. He went to the doctor and was diagnosed with bronchitis. He was treated but did not recover completely. His family took him to a private clinic near their home and he was given corticosteroid injections for four consecutive days, two shots a day, of unknown dosage.
After the injection, the baby's cough subsided, but about a month later, he started to show signs of a heavy face, ate more than usual with 4 bowls of rice per meal, gained 3-4 kg, had low hair growth, and a mustache appeared. Test results at the Central Endocrinology Hospitalshowed that serum cortisol decreased below 27.6 (normal range 69-610), the patient's adrenal gland was not functioning.
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The doctor checked the boy's health due to abnormal condition after using corticoid. Photo:China |
According to Dr. Do Gia Nam, the child was diagnosed with pseudo-cushing syndrome, characterized by excessive hair growth, obesity, and a heavy face. The child also suffered from severe adrenal insufficiency due to corticosteroid abuse.
The child was treated with a pituitary-adrenal axis stimulation test using 0.25 mg of synacthen hormone. After one week of treatment, the child's adrenal function returned to normal.
Dr. Nam said that if corticosteroids are used correctly, in the right dosage and at the right time, they can help save the lives of people with many dangerous diseases. However, if used in high doses and for a long time, without supportive treatment measures to reduce the toxicity of the drug, it can cause many dangerous complications for the patient.
Corticoid abuse is quite common. Many people suffer extremely serious consequences due to corticosteroid abuse such as acute adrenal insufficiency, which in the long term can cause osteoporosis, bone fractures, increased blood sugar... In particular, corticosteroid abuse in children will slow down the child's intellectual and mental development.
Doctors recommend that patients should not use corticosteroids in any form without a doctor's prescription. When there are unusual signs in the body, it is necessary to go to the hospital for examination according to the correct specialist.
