Cushing syndrome induced by parents: a report of two cases

S Basu1, N Verma, A Kumar

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. drsriparnabasu@rediffmail.com

Insights

Pediatric Cushing syndrome can occur from incorrect corticosteroid use. Parents should follow medical advice for prescribing medications like prednisolone and betamethasone to children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Clinical Pharmacology

Background:

  • Corticosteroids are essential medications for various pediatric conditions.
  • Inappropriate administration can lead to serious adverse effects.

Observation:

  • Two cases of pediatric Cushing syndrome are presented.
  • Cases involved incorrect dosage and duration of corticosteroid therapy by parents.

Findings:

  • A 7-year-old boy developed Cushing syndrome after receiving an improper dose of prednisolone for neurocysticercosis.
  • A 1-year-old boy developed Cushing syndrome after being given an incorrect dose of oral betamethasone for a respiratory infection.

Implications:

  • Highlights the critical need for precise corticosteroid dosing in children.
  • Underscores the importance of parental education regarding medication administration.
  • Emphasizes potential risks of exogenous corticosteroid-induced Cushing syndrome in pediatric patients.

Related Concept Videos

Cushing Syndrome I: Introduction01:26

Cushing Syndrome I: Introduction

Cushing syndrome refers to the collection of clinical manifestations that arise when tissues are exposed to excessive amounts of cortisol or cortisol-like medications over an extended period. Cortisol, a glucocorticoid produced by the adrenal cortex, regulates metabolism, immune responses, and the body’s adaptation to stress. When its concentration remains chronically elevated, these physiological pathways become dysregulated, resulting in the characteristic features of the syndrome.Exogenous...
Cushing Syndrome II: Pathophysiology01:19

Cushing Syndrome II: Pathophysiology

Cortisol production is normally governed by the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, which maintains hormonal balance through tightly regulated feedback mechanisms. Disruption of this regulatory system is central to the development of Cushing syndrome, whether the excess cortisol originates from external medications or internal pathology. Persistent cortisol elevation alters metabolism, immune function, and endocrine signaling, producing the characteristic clinical features of the...
Adrenal Gland Disorders01:27

Adrenal Gland Disorders

Adrenal gland disorders manifest when the production of adrenal hormones deviates from the norm, resulting in either excessive or insufficient concentrations.
Adrenal insufficiency, characterized by insufficient cortisol and aldosterone production, leads to conditions like Addison's disease. This disorder, affecting the adrenal cortex, exhibits symptoms such as skin bronzing, dehydration, low blood pressure, fatigue, and weight loss. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, a genetic ailment causing...
Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience, such as differences...
Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance02:30

Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance

Diploid organisms inherit genetic material through chromosomes from both parents. Copies of the same gene are known as alleles. In most cases, both alleles are simultaneously expressed and allow various cellular processes to function optimally. If one of the alleles is missing or mutated, the expression of the other allele can compensate; however, this is not true for all genes.
The expression of some genes depends on which parent passed the gene to the offspring, through a phenomenon known as...
Huntington Disease l: Introduction01:21

Huntington Disease l: Introduction

Huntington disease or HD is a progressive, fatal neurodegenerative disorder inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern.PathophysiologyIt is caused by expansion of the CAG trinucleotide repeat in the HTT gene on chromosome 4 (4p16.3), producing an abnormal huntingtin protein with an expanded polyglutamine tract. This misfolded protein disrupts cellular function, leading to neuronal death. Normal alleles have ≤26 repeats, 27–35 are intermediate (risk of expansion), 36–39 show reduced penetrance,...