endocrine Archives - Resource Library - Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Steroids should never be missed. Any stress situation such as illness or surgery will need additional steroids. Details Name: Date of birth: NHS number: Address: Diagnosis: Next of kin contact details: GP contact details: Paediatric lead consultant and hospital: Paediatric endocrine team contact...

This resource is for giving an emergency injection of hydrocortisone for adrenal deficiency (adrenal crisis). All images used with curtsey of Great Ormand Street Hospital. In emergencies, phone 999 and ask for a paramedic ambulance. Tell the paramedics that your child has adrenal insufficiency and...

What are the adrenal glands? The adrenal glands are next to the kidneys. They produce important hormones (chemical messages) to control how the body works. One of these hormones is called cortisol. Cortisol is the body’s natural steroid and helps: to control blood sugar levels the body deal with...

What is a pituitary function test? This is a blood test to see if the pituitary gland, a small gland that releases hormones in the front of your brain, is working properly. We test the pituitary gland to see if your child is growing and developing appropriately. The test involves giving your child a...

There are different types of progesterone-only pill (also known as mini pill or POP) such as Cerazette, Cerelle, Norgeston, Noriday, Micronor. How does it work? The progesterone-only pill contains only progesterone (1 of the 2 female hormones). It works by making the mucus (discharge) produced by...

Patches and pills are different ways to give the body the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone Oestrogen and progesterone are responsible for physical development (you can find out more about this in the puberty pack) and, if you have a womb, regulating periods. Oestrogen is necessary for your...

There are different types of combined oral contraceptive pills such as Microgynon, Rigevidon, Loestrin 20, Mercilon, Femodette, Cilest, Yasmin, Brevinor. How does it work? The pill works by stopping the ovaries from releasing an egg. The mucus (discharge) made by the cervix becomes thicker to make...

Patches and pills are different ways to give the body the female hormone oestrogen. Oestrogen is responsible for physical development and is really important for your overall health. Your doctor has recommended that you need oestrogen. You can take oestrogen by pill or by sticking a patch to your...

What is a synacthen test? A synacthen test (sometimes known as the short synacthen test) checks whether your pituitary gland (a tiny bit inside your brain) and adrenal glands (triangular body parts above your kidneys) are working properly. Cortisol is the stress hormone that is released by the...

What is a water deprivation test? A water deprivation test lets us see how concentrated your urine becomes when you do not drink anything. This test lets us see if you have diabetes insipidus. The test may take all day and some children need to stay overnight. It depends on how quickly your urine...

This resource explains the potential side effects your child could experience as a result of taking anti-thyroid medication (Carbimazole). If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the endocrinology team. Your child’s consultant is: Carbimazole This is an anti-thyroid drug, taken...

What is a CRH? Corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) tells the brain to release the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). ACTH tells the kidneys to make cortisol which is your body’s stress hormone. Your doctor thinks you are making too much of this stress hormone (cortisol) so we are doing a...

What is a oral glucose tolerance test? An oral glucose tolerance test is a test to see how your child’s body reacts after you have a sugary drink. We will then take a few blood tests every 30 minutes, for 2 hours to check the levels of insulin and glucose in your child’s blood. How…...

What is an IGF-1 generation test? An ‘insulin-like growth factor-1’ (IGF-1) is made by your body when growth hormone is released. Growth hormone is produced by the pituitary gland, a small gland in your brain. Growth hormone is an important hormone for growth, but it also works by...

What is a growth hormone suppression test? A growth hormone suppression test can be used to see if your pituitary gland ( a part of your brain) is making too much growth hormone. How does the test work? To test this, we will give you a sugary drink to stop the production of growth hormone…...

What is a LHRH test? A luteinising hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) test sees how well the pituitary gland (a tiny bit inside the brain) regulates the level of sex hormones in the body. It also helps regulate the amount of hormones produced by other glands in the body. How does the test work? In...