Can baby hypothyroidism be cured?

The function of the thyroid gland plays a very important role in the functioning of the human body. If the thyroid gland can no longer function properly, the child may have mental or physical development problems, etc. It is necessary to find a treatment in time. Hypothyroidism is actually a disease, hypothyroidism. So, can baby hypothyroidism be cured? This is a disease that requires long-term supplementation of thyroid hormone. Some patients will take this medication for life. Once the child is diagnosed, treatment needs to begin.

According to statistics, 70% of hypothyroidism cases are permanently treated, and in 30% of cases the medication can be stopped at the age of two or three years old. The earlier the neonatal hypothyroidism is treated, the better the prognosis will be, and it will not affect the child's growth and intellectual development. If scientific treatment is given in time, the neurological symptoms can be reversed.

Medically, it is believed that if the disease is discovered and treated within two months, and the baby takes medication for life, the intelligence will be basically normal. If the baby is older than ten months old and is discovered and treated, the intelligence can only reach about 80% of the normal level. If the disease is discovered after the age of two, the intellectual disability is irreversible.

How to treat baby hypothyroidism

(1) Treatment principles

Early diagnosis, early treatment, lifelong medication, starting with a small dose of thyroxine, and regular follow-up. Once a newborn is found to have hypothyroidism, he or she should receive T4 treatment immediately to restore normal thyroid function as soon as possible. The timing of treatment and adequacy of treatment are associated with neurologic sequelae. For patients with temporary hypothyroidism, it is generally necessary to undergo regular treatment for 1 to 2 years, stop taking the medication for 1.5 months, and then recheck the thyroid function. If the results are normal, the medication can be stopped.

(2) Drugs

The preferred treatment drug is LT4 (L-levothyroxine sodium, Euthyrox), and triiodothyronine (T3) is not recommended.

(3) Treatment goals

Restore TSH to normal levels and keep T3 and T4 at higher levels (above 50%) within the normal range.