[Hashimoto's thyroiditis in children and adolescents]

Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is a common cause of goitre and hypothyroidism in children and adolescents. Spontaneous remission may occur in up to 50% patients, but the development of hypothyroidism is possible.

We investigated the clinical manifestations, course and long-term outcome of HT.

We reviewed charts of 43 children (36 females) with HT, mean age at presentation 12.3 years, and mean follow-up duration 4.6 years.

HT is five times more common in females. The common complaints leading to referral were goitre in 19 children (44.3%), diffuse in 17 children (89.5%). As to the prevalence of goitre, it accounted for significantly more referrals in females (14 girls, and 5 boys; 73.7% vs 26.3%, t-test; p < 0.005). Goitre was either isolated in 15 (34.4%) or associated with other complaints in 4 children: anaemia in 7 (16.2%), fatigue in 5 (11.8%), increased appetite in 4 (9.7%), weight gain in 3 (7.0%), growth retardation in 2 children (4.7%), at irregular menses in 3 pubertal girls. Hypothyroidism was present in 18 patients (41.1%), 7 (38.8%) on initial admission, and 11 (61.8%) had the mean follow-up duration of 4.6 years. There were 25 euthyroid HT patients (59.9%). The family history of the thyroid disease was positive in 16 children (37.1%) and 12 of them (71.4%) had hypothyroidism. There were 6 patients (13.9%) in whom the disease was associated with some other autoimmune disease.

HT is five times more common in females. The usual complaints leading to referral were diffuse goitre, which accounted for significantly more referrals in females. A positive family history of autoimmune thyroid disease is associated with a higher risk of hypothyroidism in children with HT. Hypothyroid patients may appear in higher percentage of children and adolescents than previously reported.