[Hyperthyroidism in children at the University Hospital in Dakar (Senegal)]

Hyperthyroidism in children is rare and constitutes a problem because of its psychosomatic impact. This study aimed to present an overview of the state of knowledge on these aspects in children from Dakar.

We conducted a multicenter, descriptive study over a period of 15 years. We evaluated the epidemiological, clinical and etiologic aspects of hyperthyroidism in children.

239 patients were included in the study with a prevalence of 2.4%, a sex ratio (M/F) of 0.36 and an average age of 10.8 years. The inclusion criteria were being the eldest son in a family(26.3%), being advanced (36.9%) or delayed (12.5%) in maturation, having short stature (40.1%). It was caused by Graves' disease in 90.3% of cases with psychoaffective factor in 22.1%. On a clinical point of view tachycardia (92.4%), goiter (91.1%), exophthalmia (81.8%), weight loss (69.8%) prevailed but with bed-wetting (30.2%) and psychic manifestations (3.1%). Cardiovascular and cutaneous manifestations were positively associated with age (p < 0.05). Goiter was associated with female sex (p = 0.005), cardiovascular (p = 0.02), neuropsychic (p = 0.03), skin (p = 0.03) signs and diarrhea (p = 0.03). Free T4 was correlated with age (p = 0.007), diarrhea (p = 0.021), anxiety (p = 0.024), heart rate (p = 0.00) and Graves' disease (p = 0.04). More voluminous the goiter, higher the free T4 (p = 0.007).

Hyperthyroidism in children differs from that in adults because of induction factors, growth disturbances and enuresis. Age and sex seem to favor the clinical picture of thyrotoxicosis and its associated signs.