Causes of hypothyroidism in infants

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Bui Thi Ha - Pediatrician - Neonatologist - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Ha Long International General Hospital. He has over 11 years of experience working in the field of Pediatrics - Neonatology and has strengths in the field of pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation, neonatology, access to diagnosis and treatment, neonatal diseases such as premature birth, disease. membranes, respiratory failure, neonatal sepsis.

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the front of the neck that produces the hormone T4 (thyroxine). This hormone plays a vital role in the development and maturation of children later.

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of the neck that produces the hormone T4 (thyroxine). This hormone plays a vital role in the development and maturation of children later. Hypothyroidism, also known as hypothyroidism, is a disease that occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones (hormones) to meet the body's needs, which affects the body's development. especially the brain.
If this condition is present from birth, it is called congenital hypothyroidism.
In Vietnam, an average of 2,500-5,000 newborns will have 1 child with congenital hypothyroidism. The disease is more common in women than in men. This disease can cause some quite dangerous complications if not treated promptly such as: heart disease, nerve damage, retarded children...

The cause of hypothyroidism in infants is too little production leading to a deficiency of thyroid hormone. Normally, in early pregnancy, the thyroid gland begins to develop at the floor of the brain and then moves down to below the neck, where it stops growing. But for babies with hypothyroidism, they do not develop like this because:
Disorders in the process of formation and development make the thyroid gland not fully developed, lying in the wrong place or some the absence of a thyroid gland. According to statistics, up to 90% of children with hypothyroidism are due to this cause. If you have given birth to a child with this type of hypothyroidism, the risk of having another child with the same condition is very low. Disorders of thyroid hormone synthesis. Goiter is a common manifestation of congenital hypothyroidism due to deficiency of the enzyme that synthesizes thyroid hormone. The cause of this disorder is decreased iodine capture in the thyroid gland. Some anions such as nitrile, thiocyanate, and perchelorate compete with iodine for binding to the thyroid gland but do not participate in thyroid hormone synthesis. Deficiency of iodine-reducing enzyme is also the cause of hypothyroidism. This condition causes a large amount of iodotyrosin to be excreted in the urine, leading to a deficiency of thyroid hormone. During pregnancy, pregnant women take antibiotics that suppress the thyroid gland. In addition, if the pregnant woman uses a lot of X-rays and radiation, the risk of thyroid damage for the baby is also very high.

Neonatal Jaundice: This jaundice usually lasts for several months without finding a pathological cause. Children with congenital hypothyroidism often have delayed excretion of meconium, prolonged constipation. Children have signs of sleeping more than usual, not responding to noises, the outside environment, lazy to breastfeed, thick tongue that makes the child's mouth always open, slow weight gain, cold hands and feet...

Congenital hypothyroidism needs to be diagnosed and treated early after birth. If not detected and treated early, congenital hypothyroidism will seriously affect the mental, physical development and learning ability of children.
All newborns should be tested early to detect congenital hypothyroidism by taking a drop of dry blood from the heel of the baby to send for analysis. If the test results suggest that the child is likely to have congenital hypothyroidism, the child will be examined by a specialist and further tests will be performed to determine for sure that the child has true hypothyroidism. or not.
In some children with congenital hypothyroidism there may be a loss of hearing. Therefore, all children diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism should have their hearing analyzed at around 6 weeks of age. Although this condition is very rare, it still needs to be monitored for early detection.
Congenital hypothyroidism can be screened and screened by prenatal screening. The Maternity Package of Vinmec International Hospital includes screening tests for congenital hypothyroidism in newborns. Vinmec provides a full range of maternity services with outstanding quality, including prenatal, intrapartum and postpartum examination and monitoring to provide comprehensive care for both mother and baby.
As a key area of ​​Vinmec Health system, Pediatrics Department always brings satisfaction to customers and is highly appreciated by industry experts with:
Gathering a team of top doctors and nurses in Pediatrics : consists of leading experts with high professional qualifications (professors, associate professors, doctorates, masters), experienced, worked at major hospitals such as Bach Mai, 108.. Doctors All doctors are well-trained, professional, conscientious, knowledgeable about young psychology. In addition to domestic pediatric specialists, the Department of Pediatrics also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) who are always pioneers in applying the latest and most effective treatment regimens. . Comprehensive services: In the field of Pediatrics, Vinmec provides a series of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatric and Vaccine,... according to international standards to help parents take care of their baby's health from birth to childhood. from birth to adulthood Specialized techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in Pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery - skull surgery, stem cell transplantation. blood in cancer treatment. Professional care: In addition to understanding children's psychology, Vinmec also pays special attention to the children's play space, helping them to have fun and get used to the hospital's environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical treatment.