Why Is Thyroid Test Important For Every Child At Birth
The short and simple answer to the above-posed question would be to protect them from the effects of hypothyroidism. When caught in the early stages, this condition can easily be tested and treated. Now you may ask what is hypothyroidism and how bad can it be for your child?
Hypothyroidism is a condition where one’s thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough hormones, negatively affecting the optimum functioning of the human body. If the condition persists in children it can slow down their growth rate, and lower their metabolism.
Abnormalities in thyroid functioning are one of the most common endocrine disorders in children. This is mostly because the thyroid is crucial for brain and bone development. The hormones produced by the thyroid gland are responsible for the minutest metabolic and chemical processes that not only affect every organ or tissue but even cells in the body. Hence, the proper functioning of the thyroid gland is crucial for normal growth and development of a child.
Signs And Symptoms Of Hypothyroidism
A crucial reason to make your child undergo the thyroid test is that the symptoms of hypothyroidism are non-specific and general. It can be dormant for years and therefore hard to detect. The signs and symptoms of the condition are more pronounced in adults but one can be affected by this condition during infancy, adolescence, or adulthood. Here are some of the known symptoms of hypothyroidism:
- Fatigue
- Coarse hair
- Constipation
- Weight gain
- Muscle cramps
- Shorter limbs
- Delayed puberty
- Sleeping disorder
- Puffy facial features
- Decreased metabolism
- Slower rate of mental growth
- Lower height than peers
- Slower heart rate
- Late dental development
Diagnosis And Treatment Of Hypothyroidism
For early detection of hypothyroidism, your healthcare provider may suggest blood tests to measure the hormone levels in your child’s body. These blood tests can either be for thyroid function screening or anti-thyroid antibody tests. Hypothyroidism can also be diagnosed with the help of ultrasound or a nuclear medicine scan.
If the diagnosis for hypothyroidism comes positive, it can be treated effectively with thyroid replacement pill among other known therapies. During the early stages of post-diagnosis, there may be a requirement of regular visits to the pediatrician to decide the optimal dose as per the patient’s necessity. Once the dose is suited to the patient’s needs, it will be monitored by the doctor at regular intervals of 6-12 months. Since one of the prime reasons for thyroid dysfunction is the deficiency of iodine, try including iodine-rich food in your household’s regular diet.
Plausible Complications Of Hypothyroidism
If untreated hypothyroidism can lead to serious health complications like:
- Increased risk of heart disease
- Mental illness
- Myxedema
- Damage of peripheral nerves
- Muscle diseases
- Infertility
Your child may seem normal at birth, and if not diagnosed early, the damage caused by hypothyroidism can be irreversible.
Thyroid tests can also diagnose cases of hyperthyroidism, which occurs rarely in children. It is the result of an overactive thyroid and has symptoms that are quite opposite of hypothyroidism. The children affected by this condition can though continue to lose weight despite being fed properly. They are anxious, irritable, hyperactive, and have trouble concentrating. One of the known features of hyperthyroidism is abnormally prominent eyes. However, hyperthyroidism occurs in 1 in 5000 children and adolescents and therefore is considered to be a rare condition among them (1).
Yet, either way, the functioning of the child suffers when their thyroid is not functioning properly. This can lead to detrimental long-term effects. Therefore, to prevent your child from suffering from these conditions, make your child undergo a thyroid test right after birth. If diagnosed early, you can treat the conditions effectively, and safeguard your child from any further severity.
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