Hypothyroid in children

[MegGriffin]

Hello. My DD (11) has been having symptoms for a few months (but worse the last week or so) such as she is frequently very cold, even when it is warm. Her hands will be like ice to touch. She is very tired and tearful. She is suffering from anxiety and slightly depressed although not all the time. I just wondered if children can develop hypothyroid like adults can?
Does anyone have a child that has developed thyroid problems or is this very rare?
She is also going through puberty although periods have not started yet.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated please.

It is rarely diagnosed on symptoms alone. discuss with your GP. It is a very simple blood test and would easily rule out thyroid insufficiency.

Thank you sneezecakesmum, I will take her. I wondered if there was anyone out there who had a child with/knows someone with a child with acquired hypothyroid or if it is really rare/unheard of?

Yes children can be hypothyroid.My dd was recently tested for thyroid issues-she is six.Your DD does sound just like my mother ,who is hypothyroid, so definitely worth getting her checked.I was dreading the blood test but my dd was ok,dealt with it well and was within the normal range.Hope your dd is ok.

I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism or Graves disease when I was 9, so yes, perfectly possible to have a thyroid problem as a child.

Prob not a doctor's first thought so no harm in pushing for a blood test... my mum pushed for a YEAR before they did anything and was told I needed more attention... then a different doc saw me and admitted me to hospital immediately with high blood pressure, a heart murmur etc.

So, (that wasn't meant to scare you BTW!!) but it's quite rare in children so you suggesting it as a possibility might be a good thing.

Friend's dd as a teenager although slightly older that your dd (around 15).
When testing, ask to test whether it's autoimmune, that's because there is a link between gluten and thyroid and gf diet could help her to avoid meds for life.

Dear MegGriffun, please, read 'Why do I still have thyroid symptoms when my blood tests are normal' by Datis Kharrazyan available from Amazon. It's a breacktrough research on hypothiroidism. ALthough it doesn't address children directly, it states that it often starts in puberty, as the hormonal picture of the body changes especially for girls. It will explain to you what GP most probably won't, as it's not practiced by traditional medicine. D Kharrazian is from functional medicine. check out the website www.thyroidbook.com I myself have hypothyroid Hashimotos ( autoimmune attack on thyroid gland, which sounds like your daughter symptoms of both hypo and hyper thyroid) from puberty, I understood after reading this book. The thing is that it doesn't show in normal blood exams. YOu have to dig further for thyroid antibodies. THe book addreses thr thyroid diet, which is the most important part of recovery or managing the condition.

Thank you everyone. I will definately take her now I know that it is possible to have thyroid problems as a child.
She has so many different symptoms which make me think it could be anaemia or thyroid or even puberty. She gets head aches, tummy aches and has had problems with hip/joint pain. I really feel for her as she also suffers from emetophobia and has seen CAHMS for help with this in the past. Im not sure what symptoms are caused by her worries/stress or if there is actually something wrong with her? What I do know is that the symtoms she has are very real to her .

Hip and joint pain quite common in hypothyroid people .I would ask the doc to test for coeliac at the same time as there is a link as mentioned above,and if she has tummy aches etc it is possible,seeing as she will need a blood test anyway it would be good to rule it out.They will probably check her iron and B12 too.

Anaemia is definitely the mark of hypothyroidism either caused by Hashimotos or other causes. Coeliac, is the thing to check, too. Because in both cases the only way to manage is fist of all avoid gluten. If she has joint pains it means she has autoimmune, most prob Hashimotos, check coeiliac, avoid gluten. Although You have to be several months 6-8 gluten free to feel real difference. Read Dr Kharrazian.

Not familiar with the book mentioned above, but from looking at the website it sounds sensible as it says it can be managed by diet - or at least non-meds route. You need to become a detective as drs frequently will give you meds to deal with symptoms not the cause so you will probably need to research it yourself.

Always get copies of any tests so you can look into any issues yourself, as sometimes borderline results are very relevant and not always get picked up as abnormal. Hypothyroid can be a symptom of celiac or gluten sensitivity so you need to try and get to the cause rather than treat the symptoms, this is b/c if antibody-related, then the antibodies could then move on and damage another part of the body.
Also ask for liver and kidney function tests.

I'm with Dr Yolanda Loafer, American practitioner who is addressing autoimmune primerly thyroid. www.dryolandaloafer.com/ She helps long distance. I don't know anyone in Britain on that. The Kharrazian's book is only one year old last Dec.

The main thing is to balance immune system which is possible if you stay on thyroid diet for couple of years, even from the begning you feel relief. First, address anaemia, second even the blood sugar level, it's tough, as if your daughter is thin, she most probably has hypoglucemia, if she is overweight, she is got insuling resistance. all while off gluten, possibly other grains.

If you want to speed up ask functional health practitioners they have a method to even up immune and set you up on the right course.

Dr Yolanda Loafer was on Dr Kharrazian referral list when I asked for practiotioners who could help.

blood test is the only way it can be ruled out or in. My daughter was diagnosed with a dodgy thyroid and she displayed none of the symptoms. In fact I looked more ike I had the symptoms than she did. Dd1 was about 6 when she was diagnosed having low thyroid function

Thanks again everyone. eidsvold what lead to your daughters diagnosis?

Yes thyroid problems can be present in children.

Your DD will need a blood test to confirm this, if not your GP may take out other investigations if the thyroid function results appear normal.

daughter had down syndrome and often the thyroid can be dodgy so we were just monitoring it with annual blood tests then it became a concern so we did hte bloody tests more regularly

Thanks eidsvoid, must be a nightmare all those blood tests.
We went to doctors today and are having blood test done tomorrow morning to check for anaemia, glandular fever, thyroid and whatever else they check for.