The thyroid gland is a small butterfly-shaped organ located in front of the trachea, and it is the main regulator of the body’s metabolism. Therefore, if a child has a thyroid disorder, his or her physical and mental development may be disturbed, which can affect the child’s social and educational performance. Parents should be aware of the signs, symptoms and treatment of thyroid disorders as this is important to avoid damage to their child’s health. What is abnormal thyroid function? If a child’s thyroid gland is low, it produces too little thyroid hormone, resulting in “hypothyroidism”. People with hypothyroidism consume energy slowly and have a slower metabolism. On the contrary, if the thyroid gland is active in children, too much thyroid hormone is released into the bloodstream, causing “hyperthyroidism” and accelerating the body’s metabolic processes. In both children and adults, hypothyroidism is more common than hyperthyroidism. Hypothyroidism in children The causes of hypothyroidism (hypothyroidism) in children include a lack of a functioning thyroid gland at birth (congenital hypothyroidism) or other factors that lead to hypothyroidism in adults: low iodine in the diet (iodine-rich foods include sea fish/seafood, lamb, eggs and foods made with iodized salt), autoimmune diseases (such as type 1 diabetes) or damage to the thyroid gland. The clinical presentation of hypothyroidism in children depends on the age of the patient and the time of onset of the disease. Infants may present with prolonged jaundice, always appearing tired/weak, constipation and feeding difficulties. In older children, the growth of bones and teeth is stalled. School-age children develop learning disabilities and delayed pounding. Female adolescent hypothyroidism may cause frequent and heavy menstruation and cause anemia (abnormally low levels of healthy red blood cells). Blood tests and x-rays of the hands and wrists (knees in infants) determine whether a child has hypothyroidism and how severe the condition is. x-rays show growth and whether there is a delay in bone age. The goal of treatment is to replace the lack of thyroid hormones in the body. The recommended medication is the same as for adults, levothyroxine sodium tablets – a synthetic thyroid hormone (trade name Euthyrox or Retis), but the dose of treatment should be matched to the child’s weight and individual needs. Hyperthyroidism in children Almost all hyperthyroidism (hyperthyroidism) in children is caused by Graves’ disease (Graves’ disease, a disease of the autoimmune system). Thankfully, hyperthyroidism in this age group is very rare. In adolescents, Graves’ disease is much more common and, as with other thyroid function abnormalities, is more common in girls than in boys. Because the progression of Graves’ disease in children is often slow, timely detection of the disease may be difficult. The more common symptoms include changes in behavior and academic performance, sleep disturbances, restlessness, irritability, and the need to get up at night to urinate, which should be noted. Other clinical manifestations include easy to see goiter, hand tremors, increased appetite but weight loss, diarrhea and the typical protruding eyes and gaze. Girls who develop hyperthyroidism after puberty often have decreased menstrual flow, scanty menstruation, or amenorrhea. The goal of treating hyperthyroidism in children is to reduce the amount of thyroid hormones in the blood. When patients experience side effects from anti-thyroid medication, radioactive iodine therapy is recommended because this treatment is safe for children and adolescents. Various treatments that are effective for adults are equally effective for children, which is good news for the parents of affected children. Children diagnosed with abnormal thyroid function need family support to ensure that medication is administered daily and that the child is properly cared for. Keeping the child’s school informed about the child’s diagnosis and medication is also very helpful.