Can Kids Have Thyroid Issues?
Thyroid problems are commonly thought of as being a disease that affects women more than men, and older people rather than younger. While this is broadly true, thyroid issues can affect any person at any time in their life. And as many as 37 out of every 1,000 children suffer from some form of thyroid disease, so if you notice any symptoms in your child, you should seek medical advice right away as they may need to begin a course of treatment as soon as possible. This will usually consist of the administration of artificial thyroid hormones, such as liothyronine, the replacement for the active hormone. (Read more about T3 Liothyronine here.)
Hypothyroidism in Children
A number of conditions can cause hypothyroidism which is the medical name for an underactive thyroid. Some of these conditions, such as Hashimoto’s Disease, can be found in children: it is even possible for babies to be born with thyroid problems, so don’t hesitate to raise any concerns with your doctor or healthcare provider – it is better to be told ‘no’ a hundred times than risk missing one ‘yes’…
Signs To Look For
Hypothyroidism often results in a slowing down of bodily functions. This can include the metabolism and digestion so stay alert for unexplained constipation, feeling cold when it is pleasant or warm, tiredness, irregularity of menstruation (in girls of the right age), issues with memory and concentration, slowed growth, and general sluggishness. Because the thyroid is such a delicate gland and thyroid hormone is so powerful, thyroid issues can range from subtle to immediately concerning. Your child may only show one of the above symptoms, or they can show all of them – or any number of them!
Hyperthyroidism in Children
Hyperthyroidism in children is often caused by Graves’ Disease, an autoimmune condition that signals the thyroid to make excessive amounts of thyroid hormone. Thyroid cancer too can cause this issue, and there are other causes of the hyperthyroidism from which your child might be suffering.
Signs to Look For
Hyperthyroidism is essentially ‘the opposite’ of hypothyroidism: while hypothyroidism causes the body to run cold and slow, hyperthyroidism turns up the throttle, causing anxiety, bursts of energy which can manifest as anxiety and ADD-type behaviours, feelings of excess heat, even in cool or temperate conditions, eating enormously – with no weight gain and often weight loss to show for it, and irritability, hand tremors and muscle weakness completing the picture.
What Can Be Done?
Because children are growing and developing so rapidly, their thyroid issues may be a little trickier to ease than equivalent adult cases, but in general the treatment for thyroid issues in children is much the same as it is for adults: the administration of an artificial thyroid hormone, T3 and T4, in a carefully balanced dosage which will take some time to perfect.
In very rare cases of thyroid issues in new-borns, cases of congenital thyroid disease may right themselves by the time the child is three years old. But you must continue to give your child their medication until told to stop by a medical professional.
