If the gland is underactive, a condition called hypothyroidism Occurs. In infants and children this is extremely important, for it may have an adverse effect on mental development and a condition called cretinism can take place. Symptoms may come on silently and be unnoticed for many weeks after birth. If left untreated, serious and severe mental defects are possible. (On the other hand, if too much hormone is produced, hyperthyroidism may occur, and this has another set of symptoms.)
The doctor or even a careful and watchful parent may not detect symptoms early, for they are often vague and ill defined. They include mental sluggishness, a pale grey cool skin, often constipation, a large tongue, and flabby muscles; the latter may cause the abdomen to protrude and there may be a swelling over the navel (called an umbilical hernia). The child’s cry or voice may be hoarse.
The baby may develop at a slower rate than normal, the eyes may seem to be widely spaced, and mental development is noticeably slow. Mental reaction is below normal. As the infant becomes older, the symptoms become more apparent, the skin tends to be dry and coarse, the hair dry, brittle and coarse.
Today, in most Australian cities, new-born babies are ‘screened’ for thyroid deficiency, and in time this will become universal in hospitals before mother and baby leave. At present, hypothyroidism affects about one baby in 4000.
Treatment is invariably successful. The thyroid hormone (usually in the form of the artificially produced product thyroxine) is given. This must be supervised carefully and perhaps continued for a long time. But it will avoid the serious consequences of untreated thyroid deficiency.
Babies who have missed the screening system, and who develop any of the symptoms described, should have prompt medical investigation by the doctor. The earlier treatment is commenced, the more successful will be the results and the less likely is the risk that the baby will develop serious mental handicaps.
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