[Basedow disease in a young boy]

Hyperthyroidism in children is an uncommon disease. It occurs as congenital hyperthyroidism, caused by transplacental passage of thyroid-stimulating antibodies, and as Graves' disease (morbus basedowii), caused by thyroid-stimulating antibodies produced by lymphocytes. The latter has onset in pubertal children and affects girls five times as often as boys. Hyperthyroidism is very rarely seen outside these two age-groups. A case of Graves' disease in a 3 1/2-year-old boy exhibiting characteristic symptoms of hyperthyroidism is reported. In addition he had hypersalivation, a symptom not previously noticed in Graves' disease. The symptoms disappeared during antithyroid medication. At the age of nine a relapse necessitated a subtotal thyroidectomy.