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What Causes Hypothyroidism In Children?
Question: My 8 year old daughter extremely high TSH level of 50 uIU/mL (range is .6 to 4.8 uIU/mL) and thyroglobulin is also extremely high at 381.1 ng/mL (range is 1.7 to 38.4). There is no family h/o of Hashimoto or Grave Disease. Only as an adult in my 30s was I placed on Synthroid because of difficulty getting pregnant.
Please help.
Please help.
Brief Answer:
Under active thyroid
Detailed Answer:
I am sorry to inform you she very likely has a permanently under-active thyroid condition called Primary Hypothyroidism due to Hashimoto's thyroiditis. She will need to be on Synthroid for her entire lifetime. However before starting such treatment , a thorough evaluation by a pediatric endocrinologist will be necessary in-person to monitor other things such as her growth and to screen for other related autoimmune conditions
Under active thyroid
Detailed Answer:
I am sorry to inform you she very likely has a permanently under-active thyroid condition called Primary Hypothyroidism due to Hashimoto's thyroiditis. She will need to be on Synthroid for her entire lifetime. However before starting such treatment , a thorough evaluation by a pediatric endocrinologist will be necessary in-person to monitor other things such as her growth and to screen for other related autoimmune conditions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
How did she develop this? Is this a deadly disease? Will she not grow?
What is Hashimoto Thyroiditis? Is this the same as Hashimoto Disease?
What is Hashimoto Thyroiditis? Is this the same as Hashimoto Disease?
Brief Answer:
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
1 She developed this through an autoimmune problem ie her own body's immune defences are damaging her thyroid, rendering it inactive. Hashimoto's thyroiditis refers to this process. There is nothing that can be done to stop this.
2 All one can do is treat the resulting thyroid hormone deficiency with a medication called levo thyroxine
3 It is also an inherited condition, many a time
4 It is deadly only if not treated for a prolonged time
5 Her growth will be affected only if she does not follow the treatment program given by the pediatric endocrinologist
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
1 She developed this through an autoimmune problem ie her own body's immune defences are damaging her thyroid, rendering it inactive. Hashimoto's thyroiditis refers to this process. There is nothing that can be done to stop this.
2 All one can do is treat the resulting thyroid hormone deficiency with a medication called levo thyroxine
3 It is also an inherited condition, many a time
4 It is deadly only if not treated for a prolonged time
5 Her growth will be affected only if she does not follow the treatment program given by the pediatric endocrinologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
These are my final f/u questions
How come I had it only as an adult and she as a child?
I have other children (1 girl age 14, 2 boys ages 11 and 13). Can they inherit this too like my 8 year old daughter or not likley because they have already hit puberty and 2 of them are boys?
How come I had it only as an adult and she as a child?
I have other children (1 girl age 14, 2 boys ages 11 and 13). Can they inherit this too like my 8 year old daughter or not likley because they have already hit puberty and 2 of them are boys?
Brief Answer:
Second follow up
Detailed Answer:
1 Thyroid matters can be complex and challenging to understand and diagnose.
So yours possibly may have improved spontaneously as can happen in nature. You can discuss with your doctor if it would be worthwhile running the following tests on you unless they have already been done:
Anti Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) antibodies
Anti Thyroglobulin antibodies
Regardless of the result, it would still probably be a good idea to have your TSH checked periodically. If either or both of these antibodies are positive and your TSH is normal then I suggest checking TSH at least once a year
This thyroid problem can occur at any age.
2 There is a small chance your other kids may develop this condition too regardless of their age. Thyroid conditions tend to affect females more commonly than males.
Second follow up
Detailed Answer:
1 Thyroid matters can be complex and challenging to understand and diagnose.
So yours possibly may have improved spontaneously as can happen in nature. You can discuss with your doctor if it would be worthwhile running the following tests on you unless they have already been done:
Anti Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) antibodies
Anti Thyroglobulin antibodies
Regardless of the result, it would still probably be a good idea to have your TSH checked periodically. If either or both of these antibodies are positive and your TSH is normal then I suggest checking TSH at least once a year
This thyroid problem can occur at any age.
2 There is a small chance your other kids may develop this condition too regardless of their age. Thyroid conditions tend to affect females more commonly than males.
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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