The thyroid gland controls your child’s heart rate, blood pressure, energy level and how quickly they burn calories. It also helps control their body temperature and how warm or cold they feel. It’s important for young children, as normal thyroid hormone levels are critical for growth and brain development.
The most common thyroid disease in children is hypothyroidism. This happens when the gland doesn’t make enough thyroid hormone (called thyroxine or T4). Your doctor will diagnose this by looking at your child’s symptoms, medical history, and a blood test.
If your child’s doctor suspects an underactive thyroid, he or she may prescribe antithyroid medications called triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). These medications can help control your child’s symptoms and help prevent serious complications from developing later in life.
Thyroid disease in children can be inherited, or it can develop sporadically during childhood. Some disorders affect just one thyroid gland, while others cause problems with both.
Congenital hypothyroidism, or the inherited form, is a serious condition that can result in stunted growth and mental retardation. This occurs in about 1 in 4,000 newborns. It can be diagnosed within 72 hours of birth by blood sampling and is now part of the routine screening tests given to all newborns.
It’s important to catch hypothyroidism early, as it is a lifelong problem that can lead to physical and emotional developmental problems. The signs of hypothyroidism include slowed growth, tiredness, weight gain or loss, itchy or dry skin, constipation, and slowed or irregular menstrual periods.
Your doctor may suggest other tests to confirm a diagnosis, including X-rays and CT scans that look at the thyroid gland itself. These tests are more detailed than regular X-rays and can reveal any lumps or swellings in the neck (goiters).
Hyperthyroidism is another type of thyroid disorder that can affect your child’s health. It’s rare in newborns, but it can cause problems such as a swollen face and increased sweating. It can also affect your child’s memory and ability to think clearly.
If your child’s doctor thinks he or she might have Graves’ disease, a doctor will order an X-ray of the thyroid gland and do a blood test to check for thyroid antibodies. These antibodies are caused by an autoimmune disorder, which means that the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid.
Some autoimmune diseases can also cause an overactive thyroid. These are:
Graves’ disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in children, but it can also occur from a thyroid nodule or other types of thyroid tumors. The follicular cells of your child’s thyroid gland produce iodine-containing hormones called thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine, which are responsible for controlling your child’s metabolism.
When your child’s thyroid hormone is out of balance, it can cause problems with heart rate, breathing, and memory. It can even cause tremors and anxiety. These can impact your child’s ability to learn and focus in school.
