With thyroid disease diagnoses in adults on the rise, it is time for both parents and physicians to consider the presence of thyroid disease in children. In a recent interview, Dr. Andrew Bauer, a pediatric endocrinologist at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, recently discussed the importance of screening children for thyroid abnormalities and the signs and symptoms of thyroid problems in children that should alert caregivers if something is wrong.
In general, the evidence for thyroid disease in children has changed over the years. Depending on the specific abnormality, the cases of children with thyroid disease has increased, as is the case with adults.
One thyroid illness that physicians are finding amongst children is congenital hypothyroidism. This form of thyroid disease is due to an inadequate hormone production in newborn infants, where thyroid hormone levels are lower than normal.
However, the screening for this type of thyroid disease in children is not perfect, and depending on how the doctor defines a positive screen, test some babies may be misdiagnosed or overlooked.
Although doctors with a strict baseline definition of low thyroid hormone levels are relatively effective at catching a positive screening with the newborn heel prick, it is still important for parents to continue to follow up with testing as their child gets older if signs and symptoms of hypothyroid disease in children persist.
Signs and Symptoms of Thyroid Disease in Children
Common signs of hypothyroidism include fatigue and weight gain. However, it is important to look at the entire picture to help decipher if this change in energy levels and weight is due to a true endocrine problem and not the cause of a poor diet and slow metabolism.
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| Hypothyroidism can be detected by low thyroid hormone levels. Source: medlineplus.gov |
Dr. Bauer provides a good way for both doctors and physicians to know when a child should be screened for thyroid disease. If you notice that your child is not achieving the normal growth rate for their age or is having an abnormal onset or progression through puberty in addition to experiencing weight gain and fatigue, then it would be appropriate for your physician to screen the child for thyroid disease.
The thyroid plays a huge role in the growth and development of children and adolescents. Abnormalities in a child’s growth are a possible red flag for an endocrine inefficiency.
The goal of Dr. Bauer and other endocrinologists is to educate parents and the medical world on the presence of thyroid disease in children and infants and to increase screening when warranted. Increased awareness of thyroid disease in children could lead to early diagnoses and intervention, minimizing the long-lasting effects that hypothyroidism can have when undiagnosed.
