A child's thyroid gland can experience many different problems, and there are a variety of potential causes for these conditions. If you suspect your child may be experiencing symptoms of a thyroid condition, it's important to ask his pediatrician to check the thyroid. For example, if a child has a lump on the neck, be sure to ask for a TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) test. Your child has a better chance of recovering and feeling healthy quicker if the condition is diagnosed sooner rather than later.
Congenital Hypothyroidism
Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) occurs in some infants as soon as they are born. This is caused by a developmental problem with the fetus's thyroid gland. Often, it does not descend properly.
Transient Congenital Hypothyroidism
In some cases, CH is only temporary and can subside in a couple of months or even a few days. This is often due to the mother having been treated for Graves' disease during pregnancy, or because the mother has other thyroid problems.
Acquired Hypothyroidism
Acquired hypothyroidism affects older children--adolescents or preteens. This often develops because of autoimmune diseases, for example, Hashimoto's disease. Girls are more often affected by this than boys.
Acute Suppurative Thyroiditis
This is a rare condition, however the greater percentage of cases occur in children. It is caused when the thyroid gland suffers a bacterial infection. The gland becomes inflamed and the area is painful. Sometimes the gland will become filled with pus. Children will suffer a severe fever with chills.
Thyroid Cancer
In many cases of thyroid cancer, the cause is never discovered. However, a possible cause is exposure to high levels of radiation or nuclear fallout (specifically, radioactive iodine). There is also a genetic mutation that can cause thyroid cancer--this is called an autosomal dominant genetic disorder.
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