The thyroid gland is a small butterfly-shaped organ located in front of the trachea. It is an important gland that regulates the body’s metabolism. Therefore, if a child has a thyroid disorder, his or her physical and mental development, among other things, will be disturbed, thus affecting the child’s health and normal growth and development. Parents should be aware of the signs, symptoms and treatment of thyroid disorders as it is important to avoid damage to the health of their children. What is abnormal thyroid function? The thyroid gland is one of the larger glands in the body and its main function is to synthesize thyroxine. If a child’s thyroid function is impaired, it produces less thyroid hormone, resulting in “hypothyroidism”. People with hypothyroidism consume energy slowly and have a slower metabolic rate. On the contrary, if the thyroid gland is highly functional, it releases too much thyroid hormone into the bloodstream, causing “hyperthyroidism” and accelerating the body’s metabolic processes. In both children and adults, hypothyroidism is more common than hyperthyroidism. The causes of hypothyroidism in children include a lack of a functioning thyroid gland at birth or acquired factors such as low dietary iodine, autoimmune diseases, or damage to the thyroid gland. The clinical manifestations of hypothyroidism in children depend on the age of the patient and the time of disease onset. Congenital hypothyroidism: 1. In the neonatal period, there is little crying, little movement, poor feeding, bloating, constipation, prolonged physiological jaundice, even low body temperature, cold extremities, and low response to the outside world; 2. Typical facial features: large head, short neck, pale yellow face, puffy eyelids, wide eye spacing, low nasal bridge, large and broad tongue, often sticking out of the mouth; 3. Short stature, slowed or even stagnant growth, long trunk and short extremities. 4, indifferent expression, slow response, and decreased academic performance; 5, slow heart rate, anemia that is difficult to correct; appearing tired/weak, and stagnant growth of bones and teeth in slightly older children. School-age children develop learning disabilities and delayed puberty. Female adolescent hypothyroidism may lead to irregular menstruation. 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 in children. The goal of treatment is to replace the lack of thyroid hormones in the body. The recommended medication is levothyroxine, a synthetic thyroid hormone, as in adults, but the dosage should be matched to the child’s weight and individual needs. Hyperthyroidism in children: Hyperthyroidism in children can be due to a variety of causes. Because the progression of Graves’ disease in children is often slow, timely detection of the disease may be difficult. Some of the more common symptoms include changes in behavior and academic performance, sleep disturbances, restlessness/irritability, and temper tantrums and 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 staring. Girls with hyperthyroidism after puberty often experience 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. Surgery is recommended when side effects occur with anti-thyroid medication. Unlike adults, radioactive iodine therapy is not recommended for children with hyperthyroidism because the long-term effects of this treatment in children and adolescents are unknown. Various treatments that are effective in adults are equally effective in children, which is good news for the parents of affected children. Children diagnosed with abnormal thyroid function need family support to ensure that medications are 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.