Hashimoto's Thyroiditis in South Indian Centre

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Endocrinology
• Thyroid Disorders
• Autoimmune Diseases

Background:

• Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is a common autoimmune disorder affecting children.
• Understanding the clinical and investigatory profile of pediatric HT is crucial for timely diagnosis and management.
• This study focuses on children presenting to a specialized pediatric thyroid clinic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the clinical and biochemical features of children diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
• To observe the progression of thyroid dysfunction in these children over a six-month period.
• To identify key trends in pediatric HT presentation and course.

Main Methods:

• Recruitment of children aged 5-12 years with a confirmed diagnosis of HT.
• Assessment of clinical data, including anthropometry and thyroid function tests.
• Standardized therapy initiation and a six-month follow-up period.

Main Results:

• Ninety-seven children were studied, with a female predominance (M:F 1:5.4) and a mean age of 9.9 years.
• Over half (55.7%) were asymptomatic; 16.4% had short stature and 4.1% had obesity.
• A significant proportion presented with overt hypothyroidism (73.4%), with rapid progression observed in those initially euthyroid or subclinically hypothyroid.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric Hashimoto's thyroiditis shows a female preponderance and fewer familial cases than previously reported.
• Clinical manifestations can be subtle, with a notable tendency for rapid progression to overt hypothyroidism.
• Early detection and monitoring are essential for managing pediatric thyroid dysfunction.