hypothyroidism in children; Its causes, symptoms and treatment methods

As you know, childhood plays an essential role in people's lives due to mental and physical development, and any defect in a child's development can cause many problems in his future. One of the diseases that can affect the development of a child is thyroid disorders. Hypothyroidism is one of the diseases that, if left untreated, can have devastating effects on the overall metabolism of a child's body. In this article, we intend to introduce you to the causes, symptoms, and ways to treat hypothyroidism in children, so stay with us until the end of this article.

**What is hypothyroidism in children?** The body's endocrine glands, including the pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, pancreas, and sex glands, play an essential role in the human body, especially children. If the secretions of these glands are low or high, it will lead to a series of problems in children. For example, a decrease in the secretion of growth hormone can cause short stature in children, or an increase in growth hormone can lead to excessive height. Sometimes this disorder occurs in the ovaries or testicles, which leads to early and late puberty in children. One of the important diseases related to the adrenal glands in children is hypothyroidism. Since the thyroid gland affects the development of the brain from the embryonic time, congenital hypofunction of the thyroid gland leads to mental retardation in children. Also, this disease can cause puberty disorder, short stature and other problems in the organs and organs of the body in older age. ### **congenital hypothyroidism** Congenital hypothyroidism may be caused genetically in a baby. Sometimes the mother suffers from this condition during pregnancy and the child is born with this defect. Also, in some cases, the thyroid gland does not grow enough after birth or does not secrete hormones despite its growth, thus causing hypothyroidism in babies. In general, the condition of the mother and her nutrition during pregnancy play a major role in the occurrence of congenital hypothyroidism. Congenital hypothyroidism is so important that in most parts of the world, all newborns are examined at birth to diagnose this disease. Because the quick and timely diagnosis of hypothyroidism in infants can shorten the treatment and recovery stages and also prevent the complications of this disease to a large extent. **The cause of hypothyroidism in infants and children** As mentioned, any disorder in the thyroid gland that causes a decrease in the secretion of this hormone is called hypothyroidism. Several causes and factors can cause this disease, however, the most important causes of hypothyroidism in children are: - Hereditary and genetic factors - Congenital defect - Iodine deficiency - Secondary hypothyroidism (pituitary insufficiency) - Defects in the body's immune system **Symptoms of hypothyroidism in children** Congenital hypothyroidism does not have specific symptoms since it is passed from mother to fetus. If this disease is not diagnosed in babies or if this disorder occurs after birth, it may cause problems. The most important symptoms of hypothyroidism in children and infants are:

- Lack of growth of bones and defects in physical growth - Fatigue, lethargy and abnormal sleepiness of the child - Goiter (swelling of the thyroid gland) - Slow heartbeat - Too much sleep in the child - Constipation Brittle bones - Swelling in the body - obesity - Sensitivity to cold - Skin dryness or bruising - Learning disorders, mental disorders and lack of concentration

Although these symptoms are not signs of disease, these two symptoms are seen in most babies with hypothyroidism. In general, congenital hypothyroidism in babies is diagnosed with a big belly, little crying, a lot of sleep, prolonged jaundice, late closure of the placenta, and a large baby's head in proportion to the body at birth. The baby's head circumference is larger than normal despite normal height and weight, prolonged jaundice longer than normal, delayed closing of the placenta, sudden coughing during breastfeeding, large belly, sleeping too much and crying too little, respiratory disorders, etc. **Diagnosis of hypothyroidism in children** Diagnosis of this disease is mainly done by screening and laboratory methods, and in case of diagnosis of this disease, hormonal treatments for children should be started as soon as possible. In congenital hypothyroidism, the treatment is usually continued until the age of three, and the treatment may be stopped or continued at the doctor's discretion. Note that failure to diagnose hypothyroidism in babies can cause mental retardation, loss of speech, brain and nerve problems, deafness, and short stature. Therefore, timely diagnosis of this disease can prevent these problems to a large extent. **Treatment methods for hypothyroidism in infants** The best time to start treating hypothyroidism in children is up to 6 weeks of age. This 6 weeks is the golden time of treatment and every week of delay will decrease the IQ level of the baby. For treatment, thyroid hormone replacement drugs (levothyroxine) are often prescribed, which are dissolved in water or breast milk and then given to the child. Older children can swallow or chew the pill, in any case, it is very important to take medicines regularly and daily to treat hypothyroidism in children. It is recommended that these drugs are not given to babies at the same time as iron drops or multivitamins, and that at least 3 hours have passed after taking one of these drugs. The use of drugs usually continues until the age of three, but after that the pediatrician will stop the use of the drug once under controlled conditions to examine the child. After the necessary examinations, the doctor decides whether this treatment should continue for life or whether the child has responded to the treatment. **last word** In general, hypothyroidism in children is a serious disorder that can have irreparable consequences if not treated on time. If this disease is diagnosed during the fetal period, it is very necessary to start treatment. Therefore, it is recommended to prevent any more serious diseases in the early stages with regular checks and examinations by a pediatrician. Note that the regular and daily use of drugs has a significant impact on the serious consequences of this disease, so avoid stopping the drugs without the advice of a separate doctor.