What are the symptoms of hypothyroidism in children?

Hypothyroidism is also a disease, and this disease will happen to many people. Men, women, old and young are all susceptible to the disease. For many children, it is also easy to develop hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism will make children have big heads and protruding eyes, and will also lead to physical retardation. The child's weight will also drop rapidly. So what are the symptoms of hypothyroidism in children?

Symptoms: Congenital hypothyroidism is a common disease among neonatal endocrine disorders. The causes of this disease are: incomplete development of the thyroid gland, impaired thyroid hormone synthesis; the mother suffers from hyperthyroidism, uses antithyroid preparations or radioactive iodine treatment during pregnancy, etc., which can inhibit the production of fetal thyroid hormone and also cause hypothyroidism. Because the growth of the fetus is not completely dependent on thyroid hormone, most babies are born as normal newborns. After birth, due to hypothyroidism, the following physical signs are often present: low body temperature, inactivity, drowsiness, poor appetite, soft or hoarse crying, dry and rough skin, coldness, little sweating, large anterior fontanelle, slow heart rate, constipation, umbilical hernia, prolonged physiological jaundice, etc.

Treatment method: This disease is relatively hidden and it directly affects the baby's brain tissue and bone development, leading to mental retardation and short stature, that is, cretinism. Early detection and early treatment can enable the baby to grow and develop normally. Treatment must be carried out under the guidance of an experienced pediatrician to avoid accidents. Generally, about 80% of babies who are diagnosed and treated within 1 month after birth have an IQ of more than 90 points; for those who are diagnosed and treated within 3 months, less than half have an IQ of 90 points.

The main characteristics are delayed growth and development, low intelligence and reduced basal metabolic rate.

1. Newborns and infants Most newborns have no symptoms and signs of hypothyroidism, but careful inquiry into the medical history and physical examination can often reveal suspicious clues, such as the mother's frequent feeling of fetal movement during pregnancy, overdue delivery, bloated face, rough skin, delayed physiological jaundice, drowsiness, less crying, low crying, poor appetite, poor sucking ability, low body temperature, constipation, large anterior fontanelle, patent posterior fontanelle, abdominal distension, umbilical hernia, slow heart rate, dull heart sounds, etc.

2. Most cases of congenital hypothyroidism in infants and children often seek medical treatment due to developmental delay a few months after birth or after the age of 1. At this time, the thyroid hormone deficiency is severe and the symptoms are typical. The severity and duration of thyroxine deficiency are closely related to the severity of symptoms.

(1) Special facial features: large head, short neck, bloated face, swollen eyelids, wide eyes, wide and flat nose, thick lips, large tongue that protrudes outward, sparse hair, indifferent expression, and slow reaction.

(2) Dysfunction of the nervous system: low intelligence, decreased memory and attention. Motor development disorders, delayed walking, often hearing loss, dullness, drowsiness, and severe cases may cause myxedema and coma.

(3) Growth retardation: short stature, long body, short limbs, and delayed bone development.

(4) Poor cardiovascular function: weak pulse, dull heart sounds, enlarged heart, accompanied by pericardial effusion, pleural effusion, low voltage on electrocardiogram, prolonged PR, conduction block, etc.

(5) Digestive tract dysfunction: poor appetite, abdominal distension, constipation, dry stool, and decreased stomach acid.

The above introduces the various symptoms of hypothyroidism in children. If the child has this disease, then treatment should be provided immediately. If the child has not yet been found to have the disease, then it is necessary to judge from these symptoms whether the child has such a disease. When treating the child's disease, the child should be supplemented with iodine, but the iodine supplementation must be regular to avoid giving the child too much or too little.