A 9-year-old child has hypothyroidism due to chronic thyroiditis.

Noticing that one side of their 9-year-old daughter's neck was unusually swollen, the family took her to the MEDLATEC Tay Ho Multi-Specialty Clinic for examination. Tests revealed she had chronic Hashimoto's thyroiditis, a condition that can lead to hypothyroidism if left untreated.

The case of HPT (9 years and 9 months old, residing in Hanoi ) is recorded as one of the cases where the disease was detected early thanks to the parents' keen observation of external signs.

Illustrative image.

According to the family, they recently noticed that the baby's neck had become unusually swollen, without any accompanying symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, pain, or fatigue, but out of concern, they decided to take the baby for a check-up.

A 9-year-old girl in Hanoi was diagnosed with chronic Hashimoto's thyroiditis and hypothyroidism due to an unusual symptom: her neck was larger than normal.

HPT's family brought her to the MEDLATEC Tay Ho Multi-Specialty Clinic after noticing a swelling on one side of her neck, even though the child showed no signs of fatigue, difficulty swallowing, or breathing problems.

Upon reviewing the medical history, the doctor noted that the child's mother had previously suffered from thyroid cancer and had undergone a total thyroidectomy 6 years prior, a family history that may be related to thyroid disease in children. Dr. Ngo Thi Cam, a pediatrician, after a clinical examination, determined the child's thyroid gland was enlarged to grade 2, although no clear symptoms of hypothyroidism were observed.

To determine the exact cause, the doctor ordered specialized tests including quantitative measurements of thyroid hormones FT4, TSH, thyroid antibodies Anti-TPO and Anti-TG, thyroid ultrasound, and electrolyte panel.

Test results showed FT4 decreased to 8.86 (lower than the normal range of 11.90-21.60), TSH increased to 14.950 (far exceeding the range of 0.7-6.4), Anti-TPO spiked to 820.84, and Anti-TG exceeded >1000. Thyroid ultrasound revealed diffuse lesions consistent with chronic thyroiditis.

Based on the above results, the doctor diagnosed the child with Hashimoto's thyroiditis accompanied by hypothyroidism and prescribed treatment with the synthetic thyroid hormone Levothyroxine, as well as scheduling regular follow-up appointments to monitor the treatment response.

Hashimoto's thyroiditis is the most common autoimmune disease in children, occurring when the immune system mistakenly attacks thyroid tissue, leading to the destruction of glandular cells and reduced hormone production.

The disease often progresses silently, with subtle symptoms, especially in the early stages, making it easy to overlook. In some cases, it may begin with transient thyrotoxicosis, caused by hormone leakage from a damaged thyroid gland rather than an overactive gland. Goiter is the most common but often overlooked symptom.

If left undetected and untreated, hypothyroidism can seriously affect a child's physical and intellectual development, leading to growth retardation, short stature, delayed motor development, reduced learning ability, increased cholesterol, obesity, constipation, and even impacting puberty and future fertility.

Damage caused by hypothyroidism in children, if left untreated, can be irreversible, so early detection is especially important.

In this case, baby T. was fortunate to have the disease detected at an early stage before any obvious complications arose and to receive early treatment, which helped prevent long-term effects.

Treatment for hypothyroidism caused by Hashimoto's thyroiditis is usually quite effective using the synthetic thyroid hormone Levothyroxine with the goal of bringing TSH levels back to normal. After starting treatment, thyroid hormone levels should be monitored again after 6-8 weeks to adjust the dose.

However, not all patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis require treatment. If thyroid function is still normal, the doctor may prescribe regular monitoring without medication.

Experts advise parents to pay attention to even small unusual signs such as an enlarged neck, sweaty hands, poor concentration, and slow growth in children, and to proactively check thyroid function, especially in children with a family history of thyroid disease or autoimmune disorders.

Early diagnosis and intervention not only help children develop physically and mentally normally but also prevent serious complications that can affect their health for life.

Thyroid cancer in children, if detected early and treated promptly, has a very good prognosis, with a cure rate of up to 90%.

Treatment for thyroid cancer will not affect the child's future fertility. Baby M. will continue to receive regular check-ups and take hormone-suppressing medication to ensure the disease does not recur.

Furthermore, statistics from the Global Cancer Organization (GLOBOCAN) in 2024 show that thyroid cancer ranks sixth among the most common cancers in Vietnam. This disease is commonly found in adults, especially those aged 40 to 70, and is very rare in children.

Experts warn that thyroid cancer in children develops more rapidly than in adults. In adults, the metastasis from malignant thyroid cells to the lymph nodes in the neck can take 6 to 12 months or even years. However, in children, this time only takes 3 to 6 months.

If left undetected and untreated, thyroid cancer can metastasize to other areas such as the supraclavicular lymph nodes, lungs, bones, or brain, reducing treatment chances and impacting prognosis.

Therefore, parents need to pay attention if their children show signs such as persistent sore throat, recurring fever, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, difficulty swallowing, or constant fatigue.

If the condition does not improve after 1-2 weeks, the child should be taken to a breast and head and neck surgeon for examination to determine the cause and receive timely treatment.

Treatment for thyroid cancer primarily involves surgical removal of the thyroid gland, neck lymph node dissection, and radioactive iodine therapy. After treatment, patients require regular follow-up appointments to monitor their health. Additionally, risk factors such as autoimmune thyroiditis and a family history of thyroid cancer should be considered.

Although childhood thyroid cancer is rare, with early detection and proper treatment, the chances of a cure are very high. Parents need to raise awareness and not ignore unusual symptoms to help their children receive timely medical care.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/tre-9-tuoi-mac-suy-giap-do-viem-tuyen-giap-man-tinh-d396749.html