Elevated TSH in Children

Elevated TSH, also known as Thyroid-Stimulating-Hormone, in children can lead to what is known is hyperthyroidism. This condition is defined by the thyroid gland being over active. Tests are usually done on newborns to test the level of TSH that is being produced. Results that show elevated TSH levels will have to be re-tested to determine hyperthyroidism as a condition so that it can be properly treated.

Causes

• Generally most of the same thyroid diseases that affect adults occur in children as well. According to the Thyroid Foundation of Canada "Graves' Disease, the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in children, increases in frequency as adolescence approaches." Grave's disease is an autoimmune disease that most affects the thyroid gland.

  Grave's disease, as with any autoimmune disorder, causes the body's lymphocytes to create antibodies. These antibodies attack or stimulate certain tissues in the body. Grave's disease causes the antibodies to fuse with thyroid cells, which then stimulates them into overactivity and leads to hyperthyroidism.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of elevevated TSH in children include racing heart beat, fast pulse even when resting, shaking or tremors of the hands, feeling uncomfortably hot, lots of energy, nervous and fidgety. Increased energy due to elevated TSH may cause increased appetite and irritability difficulty falling asleep, insomnia and feeling excessively tired. Although the symptoms of hyperthyroidism is the same in adults as it is in children, some children seem to complain less about their symptoms.

At Risk

• People at risk for developing hyperthyroidism include those with a family history of thyroid disease, if you are pregnant, recently had a baby or recently had a miscarriage. If you have ever been treated for hyperthyroidism in the past or had test results that showed an elevation in TSH, you could be at risk. A test showing an elevated TSH levels does not necessarily mean that you have hyperthyroidism although continuous high levels are a strong indicator.

Warning

• Grave's disease, when left untreated, can lead to complications of the eye because the muscles that control movement become unable to function. If you are pregnant and you have Grave's disease you can pass it to your child which may result in miscarriage, premature birth and still birth. Thyroid storm is another danger of Grave's disease. Thyroid storm causes a sudden and rapid increase in thyroid activity, which elevates levels of TSH. Thyroid storm is life-threatening and typically produces fever, chills, weakness, psychosis, confusion and even coma.

Treatment

• Treatment of continuously elevated levels of TSH and hyperthyroidism in children typically involves therapy. Correct treatment can only be determined by your physician based on the severity, cause of elevated TSH and age of the patient involved. According to Jeri R. Reid, MD., and Stephen F. Wheeler, MD. "the goal of therapy is to correct the hypermetabolic state with the fewest side effects and the lowest incidence of hypothyroidism." Treatment of hyperthyroidism can sometimes lead to hypothyroidism, which is when the thryoid gland is understimulated, inevitably leading to obesity.