A clinical study on thyroid disorder in chilhood

ABSTRACT

The author studied 294 cased of childhood thyroid disorder at Pediatrics Department in Pusan National University Hospital from Jan. 1984 to Dec. 1991. The patients with grouped according to thyroid function and disease entity, and were evaluated symptoms and signs, laboratory findings and treatment. The results were summarized as follow 1) The childhood thyroid disorder was the most common in the older children, but congenital hypothyroidism was the most frequent in the early infancy. The ratio of male and female was 14.6, but in congenital hypothyroidism, it was 11.7. 2) In classification of thyroid disorder according to thyroid function, euthyroidism was the most common with 73% of the patients, hypothyroidism was 15% and hyperthyroidism was 12% in order. in hypothyroidism. the majority was Graves' disease and a few cases were Hashimoto's thyroiditis. In Euthyroidism, simple goiter was the most common with 72%, Hashimoto's thyroiditis was 24%,and 3 cases were thyroid cancer. In hypothyroidism. congenital hypothyroidism was 44% and Hashimoto's thyroiditis was the most common cause of congenital hypothyroidism. 3) The clinical manifestation at first visit hypothyroidism included thyroid enlargement which was seen in all cases, cold sweating,palpitation and nervousness. In Euthyroidism, there was no specific complaints except thyroid enlargement. Growth retardation, constipation and mental retardation were visible in congenital hypothyroidism. In acquired hypothyroidism, the patents complained thyroid enlargement, lethargy, anorexia. The causes of congenital hypothyroidism was ectopic thyroid, aplasia or hypoplasia of thyroid and dyshormonogensis with similar frequency. 4) In most cases of hyperthyroidism, propylthiouracil was administerd. The half of the patients were recovered at 4 weeks after treatment, and 92% of them were recoverd at 3 months later after treatment. The side effects were rare. In a few of them surgical method was underwent. In hypothyroidism. L-thyroxine was adminisetered, and the result was excellent.