If your child has been diagnosed with pediatric hyperthyroidism, don’t despair. Treatment for this disorder is very effective and with proper management of the disease, he or she should suffer no ill effects. Many parents are not even aware of the possibility of pediatric hyperthyroidism, though, so it’s important to educate yourself about its symptoms, causes and treatments.
Pediatric hyperthyroidism has some important differences from hyperthyroidism in adults. Pediatric hyperthyroidism occurs less frequently than hyperthyroidism in adults but it comes with its own set of challenges, especially for infants.
Congenital pediatric hyperthyroidism is a birth defect that formerly caused such problems as failure to thrive, failure to grow and mental retardation. Routine screenings in hospitals have greatly increased the treatment for this kind of pediatric hyperthyroidism and children who receive treatment immediately should have no further problems.
Another cause of pediatric hyperthyroidism is Graves Disease. Graves Disease can develop in a child over time or a baby can be born with an overactive thyroid as a result of his or her mother having the disease and excreting too many thyroid hormones over the length of the pregnancy. Pediatric hyperthyroidism that is caused by Graves Disease is usually treated with anti-thyroid medication.
Hyperthyroidism can run in families, so if you have a family history of it and your child is exhibiting some of the symptoms of pediatric hyperthyroidism, such as increased appetite, weight loss, rapid heartbeat, oversensitivity to heat or apparently hyperactive behavior, have your child checked by a doctor right away.
Pediatric hyperthyroidism patients get the best treatment from pediatric endocrinologists, because metabolic disorders like this can interfere with growth and affect the entire endocrine system.
The most common treatments for pediatric hyperthyroidism are beta blockers, medicine that slows down thyroid hormone production, or some combination of both. Surgery or radiation treatments are not generally recommended in cases of pediatric hyperthyroidism, but they can be called for if the disease is persistent in spite of drug therapy.
A qualified doctor will be able to sit down with you and formulate the proper strategy for dealing with pediatric hyperthyroidism so your child can feel better right away.