If these children are not treated in the first days after birth, permanent brain damage and mental retardation will occur. Fortunately, serious injuries can be prevented if diagnosed and treated on time.
Therefore, the important issue is to diagnose this disorder as soon as possible, which is determined by a blood test at birth.

Congenital hypothyroidism

Congenital hypothyroidism affects one out of 1,000 to 4,000 babies and is an important cause of mental retardation. Brain development, as well as the normal growth of a child, depends on the normal level of thyroid hormone. In developed countries, on days 2-5 after birth, a blood sample for TSHorT4 is usually taken from the heel. If TSH is high or T4 is low, this finding is confirmed by repeating the test with a venous blood sample.

The thyroid gland is formed from a few cells behind the tongue in early embryonic life. The number of these cells increases and they move down to the natural place in front of the neck in the first few weeks after conception. Fetal growth is dependent on its own thyroid gland, which produces thyroid hormone. In a baby with congenital hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland may be smaller than normal or have developmental defects for unknown reasons. The location of this incomplete thyroid gland can be anywhere from the back of the tongue to its natural location in the front of the neck. About 10% of babies with congenital hypothyroidism who are not able to produce hormones, but the thyroid gland is present. Rarely, substances present in the blood of a mother with thyroid disease may pass through the placenta and temporarily stop the baby's thyroid function, except in these rare cases, hypofunction is usually stable. Lifelong treatment with daily levothyroxine will prevent mental retardation and cause normal growth. By measuring the level of TSH and T4 in the blood, the amount of medicine can be adjusted in infancy and childhood. Acquired hypothyroidism

If the child's thyroid gland is underactive (sometimes due to chronic inflammation of the thyroid), symptoms such as boredom and fatigue are observed in them despite sufficient sleep.

One of the first symptoms of hypothyroidism is the slowing down of the thyroid function and the significant slowness of the growth pattern of these children. In each person, one or more of these symptoms such as: growth retardation, weakness, forgetfulness, dry and rough hair, puffy face and eyes, constipation, slow heartbeat, dry skin, cold intolerance, weight gain and goiter are noticed.

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hypothyroidism in children and adolescents

Although hypothyroidism often affects middle-aged and elderly women, anyone can suffer from this condition, including: children and teenagers. At first, children who are born without a thyroid gland or with an improperly functioning thyroid gland may have a number of signs and symptoms of low calorie thyroid. If there are problems related to hypothyroidism in a baby, complications usually include:

_ Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes (jaundice): In most cases, this condition occurs when the child's liver cannot metabolize a molecule called bilirubin. (Bilirubin naturally occurs during the destruction of red blood cells, exhaustion of normal body mechanisms)

_ persistent throat congestion

_ big and swollen tongue

_ Swelling in the face

Parallel to the progression of the disease, it is possible that children in eating

find problems and disrupt their natural growth and development. They may.

also have complications as follows:

_ constipation

_ Low muscle strength

_ excessive sleepiness

If hypothyroidism in children is not treated, even in mild cases, it can lead to physical and mental retardation in children.

In general, children and adolescents with hypothyroidism have symptoms similar to those of adults.

_ poor growth that leads to short stature of the child.

_ delay in the appearance of permanent teeth

_ late puberty

_ unfavorable and poor mental development and progress

It should be noted that if hypothyroidism in children is not diagnosed and treated as soon as possible, it can cause irreparable changes.