Acromegaly and Gigantism

 Acromegaly is a disorder in which the abnormal release of a particular chemical from the pituitary gland in the brain causes increased growth in bone and soft tissue, as well as a variety of other disturbances throughout the body. This chemical released from the pituitary gland is called growth hormone (GH). The body’s ability to process and use nutrients like fats and sugars is also altered. In children whose bony growth plates have not closed, the chemical changes

of acromegaly result in exceptional growth of long bones. This variant is called gigantism, with the additional

bone growth causing unusual height. When the abnormality occurs after bone growth stops, the disorder is

called acromegaly. Actinomycosis: Actinomycosis is an infection primarily caused by the bacterium

Actinomyces israelii. Infection most often occurs in the face and neck region and is characterized by the

 presence of a slowly enlarging, hard, red lump. Actinomycosis is a rela­tively rare infection occurring in one

 out of 300,000(1/300,000) people per year. It is characterized by the presence of a lump or mass that often

 forms, draining sinus tracts to the skin surface. Fifty percent of actinomycosis cases are of the head and 

neck region (also called “lumpy jaw” and “cervicofacial actinomyco­sis”), 15% are in the chest, 20% are in 

the abdomen, and the rest are in the pelvis, heart, and brain. Men are three times more likely to develop 

actinomycosis than women. Acupressure: Acupressure is a form of touch therapy that utilizes the principles 

of acupuncture and Chinese medicine. In acupressure, the same points on the body are used as in 

acupuncture, but are stimulated with finger pressure instead of with the insertion of needles. Acupressure is

 used to relieve a variety of symptoms and pain.