Goitres: a real pain in the neck – thyroid problems in children and adolescents
Written by:A swelling in the neck is always a reason to see a doctor. Sometimes, such a swelling may be the result of a thyroid problem, such as a goitre. Goitres occur fairly commonly in children and adolescents. But what is a goitre, and what causes it? Expert endocrinologist Mark Vanderpump explains:
What is a goitre?
When the thyroid gland in the neck becomes swollen and enlarged, we call this a goitre. The thyroid creates hormones responsible for regulating metabolism in the human body. In children each lobe of the thyroid is smaller than the child’s thumb. About 4% of school-aged children will develop a goitre at some stage.
Symptoms of a goitre
In most cases, the swelling is minimal, and may not show any symptoms. While usually painless, more severe goitre symptoms include the child coughing, experiencing a tight feeling in the throat, finding it difficult to breathe or swallow, and hoarseness.
What causes a goitre?
Goitres can occur in children with normal thyroid function (as in most children), and also in those with overactive or underactive thyroids.
Autoimmune diseases such as Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s disease are frequently connected to goitres. Iodine deficiency, viral thyroiditis, and, in rare cases, thyroid cancer can also cause an enlarged thyroid.
Some children are born with goitres, as there is some evidence that some kinds are hereditary, and research is ingoing.
Girls going through puberty may experience a somewhat swollen thyroid, but this is normal and not necessarily indicative of an underactive (hypothyroidism) or overactive (hyperthyroidism) thyroid, and normally diminishes with age.
Types of goitre
Goitres can be diffuse or nodular:
- Diffuse goitre – The whole thyroid gland is enlarged. With autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s), the goitre is usually this variety.
- Nodular – Several separate lumps develop on the gland, making it “knobbly”.
Graves’ disease can manifest as a goitre and hyperthyroidism, but this is relatively uncommon. It is more common in adolescent girls and is rare in boys.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has a grading system for goitres.
Goitre treatment
The type of treatment depends on the specific characteristics of the case, such as how old the child is, and whether the thyroid is functioning properly.
For example, if the serum TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) level in the patient is high, levothyroxine (L-T4) may be prescribed, and can result in the goitre shrinking. However, this treatment is usually ineffective if the serum TSH level is normal.
It is important to diagnose a goitre in order to manage it correctly. If you think you or your child has a goitre, you should see your doctor or a specialist. Although thyroid cancer is rare, it is important to detect it as early as possible. If the goitre is indeed malignant, a thyroidectomy will be necessary.
