11-year-old Xiao Bin has always been obedient and clever, but recently he has become uncharacteristically angry and always quarreled with his parents. Although he eats more, he actually eats thinner and thinner. Even the teacher reflects that Xiao Bin often deserts in class. When parents were at a loss, a friend who was a doctor suggested that they take their children to check their thyroid function.
As a result, the problem was indeed the thyroid gland-Xiao Bin suffered from hyperthyroidism!
Xiao Bin’s parents are very worried. Why do children also have hyperthyroidism? What is the difference between this and adult hyperthyroidism, can it be cured and how should it be recuperated?
There are many causes, and immune disorder is the main offender.
Hyperthyroidism is abbreviated as hyperthyroidism, Because of the thyroid gland in the neck, The incidence of hyperthyroidism in children is relatively low. Only about 5% of all patients, Among them, 7 ~ 14 years old is the age of predisposition, and girls are more than boys. Children’s hyperthyroidism can be caused by a variety of reasons, such as iodine hyperthyroidism caused by excessive intake of iodine, thyroiditis causing thyroxine release into blood, transient hyperthyroidism, etc. The most common reason is actually autoimmune disorder.
The immune disorder here, It is under the action of environmental factors (bacteria, viruses, iodine) and stress (such as mental trauma) that the body’s immune function is disturbed, and antibody substances against thyroid gland appear in the body. This substance is the [engine] of thyroid hormone secretion, thus causing hyperthyroidism. In addition, 60% of hyperthyroidism patients have family history, so children’s hyperthyroidism is also related to heredity.
Three Abnormal Signals, Prompting Hyperthyroidism to Cause Trouble
Different from adult hyperthyroidism, the younger the children with hyperthyroidism, the more atypical the performance, and the poor ability of children to tell their illness, so it is not easy to find the disease in time. In fact, there are three kinds of abnormal signals, which are obvious in children with hyperthyroidism.
Signal 1: Eat too much, lose weight fast, defecate too much
When hyperthyroidism occurs, the body metabolism is vigorous and the children are in the development period of the body, so the appetite increases. However, excessive thyroxine causes the continuous decomposition of protein and fat, and weight loss is also common. At the same time, thyroxine can promote gastrointestinal peristalsis, so the number of stool increases but is thick. School-age children spend more time in school, and parents should ask more carefully.
Signal 2: Hand Shake, Character and Mental State Change
Thyroid hormone has an exciting effect on sympathetic nerve. Hyperthyroidism will lead to hand shaking, anxiety, temper tantrums, hyperactivity and multilingual, difficulty in concentration, obvious decline in academic performance, and insomnia in some cases.
Signal 3: Height Increases Faster than Peers,
This is because thyroxine can promote growth.
Neck goiter, exophthalmos can also appear in some children with hyperthyroidism, adolescent girls may have menstrual volume reduction or amenorrhea. These abnormal signals do not need to be available one by one, as long as they appear, they must be caused and seek medical treatment in time.
For treatment, oral drugs are the first choice.
For adult hyperthyroidism, oral drug therapy, radioiodine therapy and surgical resection can be selected for treatment. After radioiodine therapy and surgical treatment, hypothyroidism may occur, which has great influence on children’s growth and development. Therefore, oral drug therapy is generally preferred for children’s hyperthyroidism.
Children’s hyperthyroidism can be cured. The total course of oral drug therapy is generally 2-3 years, while others take 5-6 years. Some parents often stop taking medicine when they see the thyroid function is normal, causing hyperthyroidism to relapse. There are also some who do not return to the clinic in time. Or the dosage is not reduced in time, which not only causes hypothyroidism, but also causes leukopenia, drug-induced liver damage and other adverse results. Therefore, it is necessary to review regularly according to the doctor’s advice.
Pay attention to physical and mental recuperation
Appropriate to eat: Children suffering from hyperthyroidism must supplement a large amount of nutrition to ensure their growth and development due to exuberant metabolism, increased consumption and more nutritional needs during their development period. Diet should be dominated by foods rich in high calories, high protein, high vitamins and calcium and phosphorus, such as soybeans, pig bones, milk, eggs, fruits and vegetables, etc. Because the child sweats a lot, he should drink more water and take in about 2500 milliliters per day.
Avoid eating: diet must avoid drinking tea, coffee, and avoid iodine, do not eat seafood, iodine-containing drugs (such as kelp, dioscorea bulbifolia, etc.), do not contact and use iodine-containing contrast agents, even the usual injection disinfection of iodine, iodophor should also avoid contact. When cooking, salt is non-iodized salt.
Avoid overwork, mental stress and emotional agitation, Ensure enough sleep, It is especially important for children with hyperthyroidism. It is best for school-age children to trim at home for half to one month. Thyroxine can enhance heart contractility. Speed up the heart rate, so exercise may add fuel to the fire to the heart of hyperthyroidism patients. Adult hyperthyroidism patients can only do mild exercise after thyroid function is normal, but children’s heart is fragile, so exercise should not be done during hyperthyroidism treatment and physical education should not be taken.
Sex cultivation: Some children may suffer from psychological disorders such as depression due to diseases. Parents should talk more with their children to solve their psychological burdens such as distress and depression.