An adult with cretinism has incomplete manifestation of puberty (e.g., scant pubic hair), abnormal facial features, dwarfism, and mental retardation. Explain what causes these symptoms. How is cretin dwarfism different from pituitary dwarfism? How could cretinism be prevented?
What will be an ideal response?
Cretinism results from lack of thyroid hormones during early childhood. Thyroid hormones are permissive for
growth hormones and play an important role in the development of the nervous system. The incomplete puberty
may be related to lack of thyroid hormone and growth hormone effects on the sexual tissues. Pituitary dwarfism
results from lack of growth hormone, unrelated to thyroid hormones. Prevention of thyroid cretinism is aimed at
adequate prenatal care (especially dietary iodine) and administration of exogenous thyroid hormones to the infant.
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