Health Encyclopedia

Hypothyroidism in Children

What is hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland is underactive and produces an insufficient amount of thyroid hormones. Hypothyroidism is the most common thyroid disorder affecting children. However, children with the disorder display different symptoms from adults. Hypothyroidism in the newborn, when left untreated, can lead to intellectual disability and profound developmental delays.

What causes hypothyroidism?

The most common cause of hypothyroidism is an autoimmune reaction in which the body's immune system slowly destroys the thyroid gland. Maternal antibodies produced against a woman's thyroid, or treatment of a mother's thyroid disorder (such as iodine), can affect her unborn child's thyroid function. 

What are the symptoms of hypothyroidism?

The symptoms of hypothyroidism in children are different than in adults. The following are the late symptoms of the disorder. However, each child may experience symptoms differently, and often the symptoms are not seen at all. This is why all newborn infants should be screened for low thyroid function.

Congenital hypothyroidism is associated with an increased risk for congenital abnormalities of the cardiovascular, genitourinary, and skeletal systems.

Late symptoms in newborns (neonatal hypothyroidism):


  • Hoarse cry

  • Poor appetite

  • Umbilical hernia (navel protrudes out)

  • Constipation

  • Slow bone growth

Childhood (juvenile hypothyroidism) symptoms:

  • Slow growth, sometimes resulting in abnormally short limbs

  • Delayed tooth development

Adolescents (adolescent hypothyroidism) symptoms:

  • Slow growth

  • Delayed puberty

  • Hoarse voice

  • Slow speech

  • Droopy eyelids

  • Puffy and swollen face

  • Hair loss

  • Dry skin

  • Slow pulse

  • Weight gain


How is hypothyroidism diagnosed?

Congenital (present at birth) hypothyroidism is usually detected during the routine newborn screening. Blood samples taken may reveal abnormally low levels of T4 (the main hormone released from the thyroid or abnormally high levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), suggesting thyroid problems. Released from the brain, TSH is the hormone that increases the size, number, and activity of the thyroid cells. TSH also stimulates the release of hormones that affect a person's metabolism and that are essential for normal growth and development. Evaluation may include a scan of the thyroid gland to check for abnormalities.

How is hypothyroidism treated?




What is congenital hypothyroidism?


Most children born with CH appear normal at birth, usually because the maternal thyroid hormones have sustained the fetus in the womb. Significant signs that the infant may have hypothyroidism are low T4 (thyroxine, a hormone secreted by the thyroid gland that regulates metabolism) levels and high TSH levels in the blood. Some infants with CH will have low T4 levels, but normal TSH levels.