Hypothyroidism In Children

If you are of the opinion that hypothyroidism struck people above the age of 50 only, you are definitely in for a revelation. Did you know that hypothyroidism can strike even newborns and children? For understanding hypothyroidism, you need to first know what a thyroid gland is and what are its functions?  Located at the base of the neck, just below the Adam’s apple, thyroid gland is a thermostat of the body. It controls many of your body’s systems, such as metabolism, growth and organ function. Wrong functioning of the thyroid gland can affect the heart rate, cholesterol levels, weight, vision, muscle strength, menstrual regularity, mental state and many more functions of the body.

 

Coming back to hypothyroidism, it is a condition when the thyroid gland of the body does not function properly. This is contradictory to hyperthyroidism, when the thyroid gland over-functions. In infants, the condition is termed as congenital hypothyroidism. There is no single cause of hypothyroidism in children. Rare, viral and bacterial infections, excessive iodine, radioactive iodine therapy, thyroid surgery and excessive beam radiation are regarded as some of the causes behind this ailment. Malnourished children are also prone to having the disease. To get detailed information about the causes and symptoms of hypothyroidism in children, browse through the following lines.