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Hypothyroid Complications in Children

Thyroid disease can affect anyone, but is usually seen in adults. Sometimes, however, children can appear to have a thyroid gland that is not working properly. The thyroid gland can affect how well the other systems in the body function. When children have a decreased thyroid function, otherwise known as hypothyroidism, it can cause a host of unique complications.

  1. Decreased Brain Functioning

    • Children who have a dysfunctional thyroid gland can have a lowered IQ and decreased brain activity. This complication of hypothyroidism can cause children to meet their mental developmental milestones later than other children. Taking thyroid replacement hormone can prevent the brain from experiencing any damage.

    Slower Growth

    • The thyroid gland is closely related to the pituitary gland. If hypothyroidism is present in children, it can interfere with the pituitary gland, which controls growth and development of the body. This can cause a child to appear smaller than her peers, and meet growth milestones later than other children. A child with hypothyroidism can appear up to one to two years younger than his same-age peers.

    Delay in Losing Teeth

    • A child with hypothyroidism can keep her baby teeth a lot longer than other children. So, as most children are losing their first teeth, hypothyroid children will not. Although this may not affect the child's overall dental health, it can cause the child to become aware that she is different from others. This complication can become apparent to others as the child grows, which can become embarrassing to the child.

    Decreased Attention Span

    • One complication that can occur in children with a dysfunctional thyroid gland is a decreased attention span. This attention problem is often misdiagnosed as ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. This misdiagnosis can lead to the prescription of pharmaceutical medications that should not actually be given to the child. Since medications used to treat ADHD are powerful and the side effects severe, it is important to talk to your doctor about giving a thyroid test to your child to rule out hypothyroidism before any medications are given for ADHD.

    Hyperactivity

    • Hyperactivity is another complication of hypothyroidism in children that can be misinterpreted as an ADHD symptom. Hyperactivity can occur with many disorders in the body, such as anxiety, diabetes and vitamin deficiency, but when a child displays hyperactivity along with some of the other complications and signs of thyroid disease, it is possible that the child may have hypothyroidism.

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