Clinical manifestations of congenital hypothyroidism

Most patients with congenital hypothyroidism are children. This phenomenon is caused by iodine deficiency during breastfeeding. It is also a very common endocrine disease in children. When the disease occurs, you will feel that your baby's hair is very sparse and definitely not thick, and the baby is often depressed. So let us take a look at the symptoms of congenital hypothyroidism.

Symptoms in the neonatal period

Most children with congenital hypothyroidism are asymptomatic at birth because maternal thyroxine (T4) can cross the placenta and maintain 25% to 75% of the normal T4 concentration in the fetus at birth. The early or late onset and severity of this symptom in the neonatal period are related to the intensity and duration of hypothyroidism. About 1/3 of the infants are born large for gestational age, with large head circumference, significantly widened fontanelle and cranial sutures. They may have temporary hypothermia, low heart rate, rarely cry, move little, have difficulty feeding, are prone to vomiting and choking, sleep more, be indifferent, have hoarse crying, delayed meconium passage, intractable constipation, prolonged physiological jaundice, no or slow weight gain, a large abdomen, and often have umbilical hernia and decreased muscle tone. The limbs are cool, pale, and often patterned due to poor perfusion of surrounding tissues. There are many wrinkles on the forehead, like an old man, the face is bloated, the root of the nose is flat, the eyes are wide apart, the eyelids are thickened, the palpebral fissures are small, the hair is dry, the hairline is low, the lips are thick, and the tongue is large, which often sticks out of the mouth. In severe cases, it can cause difficulty breathing.

Typical manifestations in children

(1) Special facial features include a flat nose, wide-set eyes, a thick tongue that often sticks out of the mouth, a dull expression, a swollen face, rough, dry skin, and anemic appearance. The face is pale, the nose and lips are thickened, the hair is thin and brittle, and the eyebrows are falling off.

(2) Intellectual retardation, slow nerve reflexes, slow speech, unclear pronunciation, low and hoarse voice, excessive sleep and hyperactivity. The facial expression is dull, and the vision, hearing, smell and taste are dulled. There are hallucinations, delusions, depression, stupor, drowsiness, and in severe cases, mental disorders.

(3) Delayed growth and development, delayed bone age, short stature, short limbs, the upper part of the body is larger than the lower part, slow movements, and a duck-like gait. Dental hypoplasia. Delayed sexual development and delayed puberty.

(4) There may be constipation, systemic myxedema, enlarged heart, and pericardial effusion.

(5) May cause bone pain, muscle soreness, and muscle tension

People with endemic hypothyroidism cannot synthesize sufficient thyroid hormones due to iodine deficiency in the fetal period, which seriously affects the development of the central nervous system. There are two clinical manifestations. One is dominated by neurological symptoms, with ataxia, spastic paralysis, deafness and dumbness, and mental retardation, while other manifestations of hypothyroidism are not obvious. The other type is characterized by myxedema, with a distinctive facial and body appearance, intellectual disability and normal neurological examination.

In the article, we have learned about the symptoms of congenital hypothyroidism, so when your children have such a condition, you must not take it lightly and take them to the hospital for examination in time. The incidence rate is getting higher and higher, so you must pay attention to prevention.