However, despite the fact that thyroid disease is most commonly seen in adults, it can also occur in young people. Thyroid illness symptoms in children can be difficult to spot since so many of them, such as changes in food, sleep patterns, emotions, and energy levels—are part of normal childhood growth.
Thyroid disorder in children:
It is uncommon for newborn screening tests to detect thyroid illness during infancy. Most newborns are diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism, the most prevalent thyroid disorder.
If you don’t bring up indications of thyroid disease to your child’s paediatrician or if your child has a family history of thyroid disease, your child may not receive thyroid tests after infancy.
Overproducing thyroid hormone is more common in children with hypothyroidism than in those with hyperthyroidism, which happens when the thyroid gland overproduces thyroid hormone. Your child’s growth, health, well being, and capacity to concentrate and learn are all things that might be impacted by either of these situations.
The most frequent type of thyroid disease in children is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT), which often results in hypothyroidism.
Most common types of thyroid disorders that can affect children,
Congenital hypothyroidism:
Congenital hypothyroidism is a birth condition that affects around 1 in 4000 live-born babies. It is distinguished by the loss of thyroid function as a result of the thyroid gland’s failure to mature normally. The gland is completely missing in some situations. An enzyme malfunction causes insufficient hormone production, iodine shortage, and a brain pituitary gland abnormalities in about 10% of cases. Reach out to a thyroid specialist for pediatrics to undergo pediatric thyroid care.
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis:
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune illness, is the most prevalent cause of hypothyroidism in children and teenagers. The body’s own immune system attacks the thyroid gland and interferes with thyroid hormone production. The start of this disorder can occur at any age, and the diagnosis may go unnoticed for years because hypothyroidism symptoms grow slowly.
Grave’s disorder:
Graves’ disease, an autoimmune illness, is the most prevalent cause of hyperthyroidism in children and teenagers. Graves’ illness causes the body to create antibodies that inappropriately activate the thyroid gland, causing it to release an excessive amount of thyroid hormone. Children can experience symptoms similar to adults, although they are less prone to complain about them. The child’s heightened energy may be the most visible early indicator of this disease. They may appear hyperactive and restless in class, be noisier and more easily distracted. Click here, This may result in low academic performance and parental dissatisfaction.
Signs and symptoms of children:
If you are concerned about a possible problem, reviewing some of the common signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism might help guide you.
Hypothyroidism:
Hypothyroidism is most common when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone, either because it cannot (primary hypothyroidism) or because it is not properly stimulated (secondary hypothyroidism). Consult the best thyroid disorder treatment in Coimbatore to avail best thyroid treatment.
Children with hypothyroidism may have the following symptoms:
- Slow growth or short stature
- Dry, rough skin Constipation
- Cold sensitivity
- Fatigue and a loss of energy
- Sleeping more readily bruising
- X-rays may reveal bone fractures or delayed bone aging.
- Puberty is delayed.
Hyperthyroidism:
Hyperthyroidism is characterized by an excess of thyroid hormones caused by either overactivity or overstimulation of the thyroid gland.
Hyperthyroidism, also known as thyrotoxicosis, can cause the following symptoms:
- Emotional instability, irritation, or excitability
- Attention span is limited.
- Tremors
- Appetite stimulation
- Loss of weight
- Thyroid gland enlargement (goiter)
- Exophthalmos (protruding eyes)
- Upper eyelid droop
- sporadic blinking
- Skin that is flushed
- Sweating excessively
- Muscle fatigue
- Palpitation and tachycardia (rapid heartbeat) (a sense that you can feel your heart beating)
- Blood pressure is high.
Causes of hypothyroidism in children include:
A family history of the disease is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in children. Children who have hypothyroidism in their parents, grandparents, or siblings are more likely to have thyroid illness. A family history of thyroid-related immunological diseases is also a contributing factor.
Autoimmune diseases, such as Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, are more common throughout puberty. These thyroid problems affect girls more than boys. Reach out to the pediatric hypothyroidism treatment in Coimbatore to get advanced treatment.
Other prevalent causes of paediatric hypothyroidism include:
- a lack of iodine in a child’s diet; birth with a nonfunctional thyroid or without a thyroid gland (also called congenital hypothyroidism)
- Inadequate management of a mother’s thyroid illness during pregnancy
- pituitary gland dysfunction
Major reasons for hyperthyroidism:
Diseases such as Graves’ disease, Plummer’s disease, and thyroiditis can all cause hyperthyroidism.
Thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) are two major hormones produced by your thyroid gland that affect every cell in your body. They assist in regulating the rate at which your body uses fats and carbs, help control your body temperature, impact your heart rate, and help regulate protein creation. Your thyroid gland also generates a hormone that aids in the regulation of calcium levels in your blood (calcitonin). Reach out to a pediatric thyroid hospital in Coimbatore in case you are looking for thyroid treatment.
When should you visit a doctor?
Thyroid problems are frequently inherited, so talk to your physician about how frequently you should schedule thyroid disease screening tests for your child if you have a family history of these illnesses.
If you discover that he or she has hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism symptoms, arrange an appointment with a thyroid child doctor so that the cause can be recognised and treated.
Treatment is required if your child has thyroid problems. Parents frequently feel terrible for failing to detect medical issues in their children sooner. Thyroid disease, in particular, can be difficult to detect in developing youngsters, so don’t blame yourself for “missing” early signs. The truth is that those symptoms may have just as readily been attributed to normal childhood growth patterns.
Your role is critical once your child has been diagnosed. Assist your child in learning about his or her illness and providing guidance so that he or she can spot symptoms of high or low thyroid function. This can aid in drug control as thyroid levels fluctuate during life.
