Thyroid, so far, used to be a cause of concern among adults, majorly affecting women, but now, cases of Thyroid among children are also becoming rampant. Children can have both hyperthyroidism as well as hypothyroidism; however, the latter is known to be more common among them. There are multiple reasons for thyroid problems among children; such as inheritance from parents/grandparents, birth of a baby without the thyroid gland, lack of iodine in diet or any ongoing medication that may hamper with the functioning of the gland.

Children are sensitive and need proper care during their developing ages. If the case is of a thyroid problem, then your approach needs to be meticulously designed. Here are a few ways to deal with thyroid in children.

The human Body is designed in such a way that it is able to sense and acknowledge any abnormality going inside. So, the first thing to do is to watch for signs and symptoms in children. A few common symptoms are listed below. 

If you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above, then you must get in touch with an endocrinologist, specialized in pediatrics, as soon as possible. The doctor would order for a thyroid function test to look for the levels of thyroid hormones. 

If the results do not fall in the normal range, then he might start medication immediately or may ask to wait and see for few months followed by repeated tests. You can also make a choice to go for a natural thyroid treatment under the supervision of a natural endocrine specialist.

Once the doctor has diagnosed and prescribed the line of treatment, it is the responsibility of the parents and guardian to make sure that everything advised by the doctor is being followed. If the child is already on medication, remember not to miss any dose. You can also choose to schedule an online consultation with an endocrinologist for timely assistance.

Iodine rich food helps in producing enough thyroid hormones in the body, but if the body is already under-producing or over-producing the hormone, then iodine-rich diet only acts as the supplement and medication has to be taken. Iodine rich foods like seafood, shrimps, dairy products, iodized salt, potatoes, strawberries, cranberries may improve the condition but cannot eliminate it.

A child with thyroid usually needs to take the thyroid medicine for the rest of his/her life to ensure that the body has enough thyroid hormone. However, with the suggestions mentioned above, the condition can be managed easily and the child can grow and develop while doing normal life activities. So, if there is any remarkable symptom in your child, do not delay and talk to an endocrinologist as soon as possible.

https://www.healthline.com/health/hypothyroidism/hypothyroidism-in-children

https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/thyroid.html

https://reference.medscape.com/article/922777-treatment