What causes hyperthyroidism in children?

Hyperthyroidism is often referred to as hyperthyroidism, which is an endocrine abnormality. Most people suffering from this disease are obese. In recent years, the incidence of hyperthyroidism in children has continued to rise. Therefore, parents must pay more attention to it. If the baby secretes too much thyroid hormone, there is a risk of hyperthyroidism. So what causes hyperthyroidism in children?

Hyperthyroidism, abbreviated as "hyperthyroidism", is a disease caused by the thyroid gland synthesizing and releasing too much thyroid hormone, which causes the body's hypermetabolism and sympathetic nerve excitement, leading to palpitations, sweating, increased eating and bowel movements, and weight loss. Most patients also often have symptoms such as exophthalmos, eyelid edema, and decreased vision. Hyperthyroidism in children is mainly seen in diffuse toxic goiter (Graves' disease). About 2% of fetuses born to pregnant women with Graves' disease will show symptoms of hyperthyroidism after birth. This is due to high concentrations of thyrotropin receptor stimulating antibodies in the mother's body entering the fetus through the placenta. The symptoms of the affected children usually gradually improve around 3 months after birth.

Hyperthyroidism is very harmful to children. If it is not treated promptly and effectively, it will not only affect the child's normal development, but also have serious effects on other organs such as the child's eyes. Therefore, parents must pay enough attention to this disease, discover it as early as possible and treat it in time.

What causes hyperthyroidism in children?

Reason 1 : Diffuse viral goiter. The main reason is that the child’s immune system is defective. The thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibodies in the body fluids are dominant, causing excessive secretion of thyroid hormone, thus leading to the occurrence of hyperthyroidism.

Reason 2 : Iatrogenic hyperthyroidism. Some parents of children with hypothyroidism increase the dosage of medication when treating their children, causing their children to have hyperthyroidism symptoms such as weight loss, sweating and palpitations.

Reason three : iodine-induced hyperthyroidism. Using iodine as a treatment or prevention of endemic goiter may lead to the occurrence of hyperthyroidism because the patient's thyroid function is normal but nodular and is not regulated by hypothalamic hypophyseal glands, which will cause hyperthyroidism after taking iodine.

Reason 4 : Neonatal hyperthyroidism. The long-acting thyroid stimulators in the blood of pregnant women with hyperthyroidism can be passed to the fetus through the placenta, causing neonatal hyperthyroidism. Mild cases have no obvious symptoms and do not require treatment, while severe cases require timely diagnosis and treatment.

Reason 5 : Pituitary tumor The pituitary gland secretes excessive thyroid-stimulating hormone, or ectopic tumors secrete thyroid-stimulating hormone, which can cause hyperthyroidism.