Juvenile Hyperthyroidism

Abstract

Background: Hyperthyroidism is less frequent in children than adults and its clinical profile is different.Objective: The objective of our study was to analyze the clinical characteristics of hyperthyroidism in children and adolescents. Subjects and Methods: It is a retrospective study concerning 161 patients (129 Females/32 Males) with mean age of 15.63 ± 3.51 years. Their medical records were reviewed.Results: 98.1% have Graves' disease. Appealing symptoms were thyrotoxicosis signs in 69%, ophtalmological signs in 15% and goiter in 16%. Diagnosis delay was of 20.73±20.69 months. Clinical presentation was obvious in 81% and discrete in 19%. Goiter was of type II/type III in 74% and of type I in 26%, exophtalmous was present in 69% and it was severe in 12.5%. Several complications were recorded, cardiothyreosis in 1.86%, dysglycemia in 13.04%, myopathy in 3.72% and behavioral disorders in 6.83%.Conclusion: Graves' disease is the main etiology of hyperthyroidism in children and adolescents; diagnosis is often delayed although it is clinically obvious so complications may occur. Therefore hyperthyroidism should be diagnosed and treated promptly.