KALLMAN KALLMAN KALLMAN KALLMAN KALLMAN

Kallmann syndrome, also known as Kallmann’s syndrome, is a rare genetic disorder characterized by the combination of hypogonadotropic hypogo nadism (HH) and an impaired sense of smell or anosmia. It is named after the German endocrinologist Franz Josef Kallmann, who first described the condition in

While there is no cure for Kallmann syndrome, it can be managed with hor mone replacement therapy to address the hormonal deficiencies and improve the development of secondary sexual characteristics.

Full

name,

Hoe Hao Ming Nickson Geraldo

Age, 19

Occupation, Working at SANKYU as a Customer Service Representative under workstudy diploma in ITE

Nickson, my older brother, has a condition called Kallmann syndrome. He experiences anosmia, the complete loss of the sense of smell, as well as delayed puberty due to the hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) associated with the condition.

During a school health check up, the doctors there had discovered that he had not started puberty at the age of 16. After a series of check ups at the Health Promotion Board, he was diagnosed with Kallmann syndrome.

While there is no cure for Kallmann syndrome, it can be managed with hormone replacement therapy to address the hormonal deficiencies and improve the development of secondary sexual characteristics. For males, hormone replacement therapy typically involves the administration of testosterone. Testosterone can be given in various forms, including injections, transdermal patches, gels, or pellets. The chosen method of administration depends on individual preferences, the severity of the hormone deficiency, and the healthcare provider’s recommendation.

Testosterone undecanoate soft gelatin capsules, commonly known by the brand name “Andriol,” are a form of hormone replacement therapy used to treat male hypogonadism, which is a condition where the testes do not produce enough testosterone. It is a form of hormone replacement therapy that helps to raise testosterone levels to within the normal range. These capsules contain testosterone undecanoate, a long-acting ester of testosterone.

Unlike many other testosterone medica tions that require intramuscular injec tions, testosterone undecanoate is taken orally in the form of soft gelatin cap sules. This makes it a convenient option for individuals who may prefer an alternative to injections.

It’s important to note that testosterone replacement therapy is generally not recommended for prepubertal males with Kallmann syndrome as they are still in the process of natural development, and hormone therapy could interfere with their normal growth and puberty. However, once they reach an appropriate age and stage of development, testosterone replacement therapy may be initiated under the guidance of an experienced endocrinologist.

My brother has to take this medication twice a day. The first few times he had always forgotten to take them, sometimes only taking it once and totally forgetting afterwards. As he was not used to having to take medication regularly, he was always distracted by school work or leisure activities and taking his medication was not on his mind. To solve this issue, my dad, who takes medication for his blood pressure reguarly, would remind him everyday to take his medication. This helped my brother create a routine and he slowly got used to taking his medication reguarly and on time.

Furthermore, my brother wasn’t a big fan of taking pills. He shared that he had always had a hard time swallowing pills and would always opt for a liquid alternative. Thus having to regularly swallow pills was a slight obstacle that he eventually overcame as time went by.

To add on, while this condition had caused his puberty to be delayed, which meant that he did not go through the same changes as his male friends did during the time period, he had always stayed positive and didn’t let this condition affect him or his self-esteem. My brother would frequently make jokes and see things in a positive way such as his lack of hormonal acne or the fact that he was taller than me although I had already gone through puberty. He has never let his condition get the better of him and feels that his condition doesn’t make a big difference in his life.

However with this condition, the price to be paid for the health check ups and medication was big. While my family wasn’t necessarily struggling financially, having to spend a big amount of money for his condition alone was intimidating.

My brother felt sad seeing our parents having to spend so much money on him, Although it was something he could not control, knowing our parents worked so hard to provide for us and him being the cause of more expenses, made him feel extremely guilty.

My parents shared that they would happily spend the money needed if it meant my brother was able to live normally like others. If really needed, Singapore has various options that could help them financially thus they assured my brother that there was no need to feel guilty. It was their duty as parents to do the very best for their kids and ensure that we are able to live happily,

Some worries my parents pointed out was if this condition would affect my brother’s ability to have kids in the future. However they have big hopes that modern medication would be able to solve this problem.

Hearing them say this, made my brother emotional which led to a very memorable family moment. I also felt very emotional having seen my family in such a vulnerable state.

Although my brother’s condition did not really affect my livelihood, I always try to be considerate of the amount of money I spend as I am a full-time student and still rely on my parents for pocket money. My brother has recently gotten his paycheck and has also started contributing to general expenses in order to help the family financially.

Moving on to my brother’s lack of smell, my parent’s had considered many options to cater to this condition. Some examples are, buying induction cookers and smoke detectors. They had worries that if a fire were to occur, my brother may take more time to notice which might put him in a more dangerous and vulnerable position.

Induction cookers have a significant safety advantage because they only heat the cookware and its contents, not the cooking surface itself. As a result, the cooktop remains relatively cool to the touch, reducing the risk of burns or accidental contact with a hot surface, which can be especially important for someone who cannot rely on their sense of smell to detect potential dangers or spills.