Kids & thyroid disease - what you need to know

While you might think of thyroid disease as an adult health concern, that’s not the case. Children can develop thyroid conditions just like adults - and it often goes undiagnosed.

So what sorts of thyroid issues do you need to watch out for, and how can you spot them? You’ve come to the right place to learn exactly that.

Is thyroid disease really something that kids develop?

Absolutely! Thyroid problems are the most common endocrine disorder in school-aged children. Estimates suggest that nearly 37 in 1000 kids have a thyroid disorder.

Of the thyroid conditions, Hashimoto’s is the most common form of thyroid disease in countries where iodine levels are sufficient in the soil. However, Graves’ disease and thyroid cancer can also be seen in children as well.

So why do you never hear about this? Unfortunately, it’s far more common than we think, but it’s not being picked up. Doctors may not screen for it at all in symptomatic kids, or they may only test TSH. And as we know, TSH is far from being a full picture of thyroid function!

What symptoms could my child show?

Wondering if your child has a thyroid issue? Here are a few key signs to watch out for:

• Growth slowing down with no obvious reason why

• A puffy, swollen area at the front of the neck (known as a goitre)

• Low energy levels and feeling fatigued

• Itchy, dry skin

• Feeling colder and struggling with chilly temperatures OR feeling hot and not coping in the heat

• Fluctuations in body weight

• Changes to appetite - feeling hungry all the time or having little appetite

• Reduced concentration and focus

• Constipation or diarrhoea

Now it's important to note that there are many health concerns that can cause these symptoms. But if you spot these, it might be time to consider getting their thyroid function tested.

What can increase the risk of my child developing thyroid disease?

Like most health concerns, we don’t always know the exact combinations of factors that triggered it to begin with. But we do know that there are many ‘red flags’ that can increase the risk.

When it comes to children, the biggest indicators to watch out for are:

• Thyroid-specific family history - parents, grandparents siblings or cousins with a thyroid condition

• Autoimmune family history - including Coeliac and type 1 diabetes

• Mother having a thyroid issue during pregnancy that wasn't adequately controlled (including undiagnosed thyroid disease)

• Nutrient deficiencies - particularly iodine, iron and/or zinc

• Environmental triggers - car accidents, major surgery

• Radiation exposure - including X-rays, MRI, WiFi, mobile phones and other devices

• Significant stress & trauma

• Long-term or lingering illness including viruses or back-to-back infections

• Any other major condition that affected their physical, mental or emotional health

As you can see, there are a lot of potential triggers - and we can't avoid or control most of them! So it's not about feeling guilty as a parent.

The key is to be proactive with this knowledge. If you spot at least a couple that are relevant for your child, make sure you monitor them for thyroid symptoms.

How can I best manage my child’s thyroid condition?

This depends on what they have developed. Stay tuned for future articles where I will explore advice around hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer in kids.

But the good news? Children typically respond much faster to effective management than adults. After all, they’ve been exposed to less over their lifetime, and they tend to have more vitality. So with the right approach, your child will be back to their happy, healthy self in no time!

Looking to learn more about your child’s thyroid condition?

Make sure you grab a copy of one of my ebooks for plenty of actionable content and helpful advice! If they have hyperthyroidism or Graves’, check out this ebook here. If they have hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s, this is the ebook for you.