[Characteristic features of autoimmune thyroid disease in children]

The present review discusses in detail the most important problems of autoimmune thyroid disease in children and adolescents. There is a low incidence of autoimmune thyroid disorders in children and adolescents, the most important being Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Painless thyroid enlargement and delayed development are essential symptoms. Patients suffering from hypothyroidism or goitre should be treated with 1-thyroxin. The aim of treatment is to normalise metabolism and TSH levels. Graves' disease in children and adolescents is uncommon, and clinical features may be subtle. Typical eye symptoms are very often not present. Compared to older patients, the duration of symptoms is usually longer and the degree of hyperthyroidism more pronounced. This is why children require more time to achieve remission after anti-thyroid drug treatment. As already indicated, surgery is usually preferred to radioiodine.