Thyroid dysfunction in children and adolescence: Experience of a tertiary care centre in Kerala

Dr Lakshminarayana Gopaliah R,Mr Nidhish P Sadanandan,Dr Sheetal Lakshminarayana G,Mr Pramod Mundekkat

doi:10.17511/ijpr.2016.i01.02

Abstract

Background: There is limited data regarding the prevalence of thyroid disorders in children and adolescents from India. Methods: All subjects aged 1-19 years, who underwent estimation of thyroid function tests (TFTs) at the EMS Memorial Cooperative Hospital and Research Centre, Perinthalmanna (2009-2013) were included in the study. Results: A total of 784 subjects (males-336, females-448), aged between 1-19 (Mean 11.12, SD-6.23) years, who under-went estimation of TFTs were studied. The prevalence rate of all thyroid function abnormalities was 9.18%. The thyroid function disorders were more common (10.89%) in adolescents (14-19 years) than children (1-13 years) (7.82%) and in females (12.05%) than males (5.36%) in both age groups. The prevalence rates of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH), overt hypothyroidism (OH) and hyperthyroidism were 4.08%, 3.05% and 2.04% respectively. Conclusions: The thyroid function abnormalities are common in children and adolescents affecting about ~ 9% in study population. The SCH was the commonest thyroid function disorder, followed by OH and hyperthyroidism with female: male ratios of 2.5:1, 2.43:1 and 7:1 respectively. Majority of cases OH were of primary hypothyroidism. The SCH and hyperthyroidism were more prevalent in the adolescents than children; however, OH was more common in children than adolescents.

Highlights

The thyroid function disorders are very common in the world, there is limited data regarding them in children and adolescents
Study design and subjects: This was a retrospective study conducted at EMS Memorial Cooperative Hospital and Research Centre, Perinthalmanna, Malappuram, Kerala; a tertiary care, referral centre in northern Kerala
The present study was the first of kind to assess the prevalence of thyroid function abnormalities in children and adolescents from northern Kerala

Summary

Introduction

The thyroid function disorders are very common in the world, there is limited data regarding them in children and adolescents. The evolution rate of SCH to overt hypothyroidism (OH) on follow-up ranges from 0-28.8 % in another study[5]. The thyroid function disorders were more common (10.89%) in adolescents (14-19 years) than children (1-13 years) (7.82%) and in females (12.05%) than males (5.36%) in both age groups. The prevalence rates of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH), overt hypothyroidism (OH) and hyperthyroidism were 4.08%, 3.05% and 2.04% respectively. Conclusions: The thyroid function abnormalities are common in children and adolescents affecting about ~ 9% in study population. The SCH was the commonest thyroid function disorder, followed by OH and hyperthyroidism with female: male ratios of 2.5:1, 2.43:1 and 7:1 respectively. The SCH and hyperthyroidism were more prevalent in the adolescents than children; OH was more common in children than adolescents

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Discussion

Conclusion