Question

Short / Long answer type questions.
A child shows the following symptoms~: deficient growth; failure to show sexual development; and decreased ability to respond to stress. What is the most likely cause of these symptoms?

Answer 1

This is the case of either destruction of the anterior pituitary gland or hypothalamus. These symptoms reflect the absence of, in order, growth hormone, the gonadotropins, and ACTH (the symptom is due to the resulting decrease in cortisol secretion). The problem is either primary hyposecretion of anterior pituitary gland hormones or releasing hormones from the hypothalamus.