Endocrinopathies in children affected by the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine

Abstract

Objective — to study the impact that endocrine pathology has on physical development of school-age children affected by the Armed Conflict in Eastern Ukraine. Materials and methods. 276 boys and girls aged 6—16 years have been under observation. Patients have been divided into groups according to nature of physical development and age at the beginning of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) in Eastern Ukraine. Mathematical processing of the adolescent examination results has been carried out using «SPSS Statistics 17.0» and «Excel» software packages. Results and discussion. It has been determined that 68.1% of schoolchildren who applied to the State institution «Institute for Children and Adolescents Health Care of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine» for medical aid had a pathology of endocrine system, prevalent in the structure of which were type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) (39.2 %) and thyropathies (37.3%). It has been proved that the risk group for disharmonious physical development (DPD) consists of children with thyropathies and DM who at the beginning of ATO had been younger than 9 years old, as well as adolescents aged 11—13 years, afflicted with thyropathies, and those aged 14—16 years, afflicted with DM. In young children we have most frequently identified growth disorders; in adolescents aged 9—13 years, afflicted with thyropathies and DM, — excessive or deficient body mass; in adolescents aged 14—16 years, afflicted with thyropathies, — growth disorders; and in adolescents aged 14—16 years, afflicted with DM, — excessive body mass. We have substantiated the expediency of using potassium iodide or L-thyroxine medications for prevention and treatment purposes. Conclusions. Disharmonious physical development of children and adolescents is influenced by nature of endocrinopathy and age at which a patient had experienced active influence of negative factors related to an armed conflict. Prevention and correction of thyroid dysfunction is a significant factor in emergence of PD disorders.