ﺑﺎﺯﮔﺸﺖ ﺑﻪ ﺻﻔﺤﻪ ﻗﺒﻠﯽ
خرید پکیج
تعداد آیتم قابل مشاهده باقیمانده : 3 مورد
نسخه الکترونیک
medimedia.ir

Patient education: Congenital hypothyroidism (The Basics)

Patient education: Congenital hypothyroidism (The Basics)

What is congenital hypothyroidism? — Congenital hypothyroidism is a condition that causes the body to have too little thyroid hormone. Babies can be born with it. (The word "congenital" means a condition a person is born with.)

Normally, there is a gland in the neck called the thyroid gland. It makes thyroid hormone. This hormone controls how your body uses and stores energy (figure 1). "Hypothyroidism" is the term doctors and nurses use when a person's body does not make enough thyroid hormone. Another term for this is "underactive thyroid."

Congenital hypothyroidism can happen if:

The thyroid gland is missing, smaller than normal, or in the wrong place

The gland does not make thyroid hormone because of a genetic problem

There is a problem in the part of the brain that controls the thyroid gland

There are other forms of congenital hypothyroidism, too. One form can happen to babies born to mothers who do not get enough of a substance called "iodine" in their diet. This is uncommon in the US and many other countries, but can happen if the baby is born early. Other forms can happen if a person takes certain medicines or dietary supplements during pregnancy, or if a baby gets too much iodine. These types of congenital hypothyroidism might need treatment, but usually go away on their own after a while.

Most types of congenital hypothyroidism need to be treated, or they can cause serious problems.

What are the symptoms of congenital hypothyroidism? — Most babies with this condition have no symptoms. If they do, the symptoms can include:

Enlarged thyroid gland (called "goiter")

Growing more slowly than other babies

Larger fontanelles (the soft spots on a baby's head) than other babies

Jaundice – This is a condition that makes the skin or the white part of the eye turn yellow. But most jaundice in newborn babies is not caused by hypothyroidism.

If your baby has any of the symptoms listed above, talk to their doctor or nurse. Congenital hypothyroidism can cause life-long learning problems if it is not treated.

Is there a test for congenital hypothyroidism? — Yes. All newborn babies in the US and many other countries have a blood test to check for congenital hypothyroidism. The test is done as part of the routine newborn screening tests. The goals of newborn screening are to find out if a baby has congenital hypothyroidism and to start treatment before it causes any symptoms or problems. Babies who are born early (premature) might need 2 or more screening tests.

If the results of this test are abnormal, doctors might do other tests. These include:

Blood tests

Urine tests

Ultrasound – This test uses sound waves to create pictures of the inside of the body.

Thyroid scan – For this test, the baby drinks a liquid or gets a shot with a small amount of a radioactive substance. Then a camera or scanner creates pictures of the thyroid gland.

Babies with certain medical conditions are more likely to have congenital hypothyroidism. These include Down syndrome and some problems with the brain. If your baby has 1 of these conditions, they will most likely need extra screening tests.

How is congenital hypothyroidism treated? — Congenital hypothyroidism is treated with medicine called "levothyroxine." This medicine replaces the thyroid hormone your baby's body cannot make normally. It needs to be taken every day.

The medicine usually comes in a pill. To give your baby the pill each day, crush the pill into powder or very small pieces, and mix it with breast milk, formula, or water. Or, you might be able to get the medicine in liquid form. Talk to your child's doctor or nurse if you are having trouble giving the medicine or you want to try another form.

Important instructions to follow:

Avoid soy formula or soy milk. If you use formula and your baby cannot drink regular formula made from cow's milk, ask their doctor what to use instead.

Do not change the dose or give more medicine without asking the doctor. Giving too much thyroid hormone can cause heart problems, and giving too little can cause learning problems.

Give the medicine every day, at the same time and in the same way. Your baby's doctor will tell you when and how to give it.

Babies and children with congenital hypothyroidism need regular checkups. They also need blood tests to check hormone levels. Ask the doctor or nurse how often to get checkups and tests, and go to the child's appointments on time. The child needs to see a doctor or nurse regularly to make sure they are getting the right amount of thyroid hormone. Not giving the right amount of thyroid hormone can cause serious life-long problems.

Some children grow out of congenital hypothyroidism. The doctor will do a blood test to check for this. But most children need to keep taking daily thyroid hormone for life.

Can congenital hypothyroidism be prevented? — Not when it happens without a clear cause or because of a genetic problem. But learning problems related to congenital hypothyroidism can be prevented by:

Checking to make sure the baby is tested for congenital hypothyroidism right after birth. This is done as part of the newborn screening tests in the US and many other countries.

Giving thyroid hormone for as long as the doctor recommends. Many people with congenital hypothyroidism need to take thyroid hormone for life.

Making sure the child with congenital hypothyroidism gets regular checkups and blood tests to see if they are getting the right amount of thyroid hormone

If you have a thyroid condition and want to get pregnant, talk to your doctor, nurse, or midwife. They can measure your thyroid hormone levels with a blood test. Having normal thyroid hormone levels can help you have a healthy baby. If you are taking medicines for a thyroid condition, your doctor or nurse can check to be sure that they are safe for the baby. They can also make sure you are getting the right dose.

What will my child's life be like? — Most babies with congenital hypothyroidism live normal lives if the condition is found and treated soon after they are born.

Having the right amount of thyroid hormone is especially important in babies and young children. The thyroid hormone helps the brain develop. If a child's brain does not get enough thyroid hormone, they can have learning problems. This causes life-long problems with thinking, learning, and doing daily activities.

More on this topic

Patient education: Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) (The Basics)
Patient education: How to plan and prepare for a healthy pregnancy (The Basics)

Patient education: Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) (Beyond the Basics)

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Feb 02, 2024.
Disclaimer: This generalized information is a limited summary of diagnosis, treatment, and/or medication information. It is not meant to be comprehensive and should be used as a tool to help the user understand and/or assess potential diagnostic and treatment options. It does NOT include all information about conditions, treatments, medications, side effects, or risks that may apply to a specific patient. It is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for the medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a health care provider based on the health care provider's examination and assessment of a patient's specific and unique circumstances. Patients must speak with a health care provider for complete information about their health, medical questions, and treatment options, including any risks or benefits regarding use of medications. This information does not endorse any treatments or medications as safe, effective, or approved for treating a specific patient. UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates disclaim any warranty or liability relating to this information or the use thereof. The use of this information is governed by the Terms of Use, available at https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/know/clinical-effectiveness-terms. 2024© UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates and/or licensors. All rights reserved.
Topic 17218 Version 6.0

آیا می خواهید مدیلیب را به صفحه اصلی خود اضافه کنید؟