Thyroid Disease in Childhood and Adolescence

Goitre or thyroid enlargement is a common symptom seen during childhood and adolescence and can be associated with hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. Failure to thrive is a common presentation of childhood or adolescent hypothyroidism. At the time of puberty, there is mild physiological enlargement of the thyroid gland, called puberty goitre. The commonest cause of hypothyroidism in childhood is autoimmune thyroiditis. Other causes include dyshormonogenesis and iodine deficiency. Nowadays, with the implementation of neonatal screening severe mental retardation due to hypothyroidism is less common. Thyrotoxicosis seen in children is almost always due to Graves’ disease.