Clinical and biochemical profile of thyroid disorders in pediatric patients: a cross-sectional study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-3291.ijcp20252595Keywords:
Pediatric thyroid disorders, Hypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism, FT3, FT4, TSH, Clinical profile, EndocrinologyAbstract
Background: Thyroid disorders in children can significantly impact growth, development, and metabolic functions. Early identification and appropriate management are essential to prevent long-term complications. This study aimed to assess the clinical presentations and biochemical profiles of thyroid dysfunction among pediatric patients in a tertiary care setting in Bangladesh.
Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and at the Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolic Disorder, Bangladesh Shishu hospital and institute, Dhaka, from June 2024 to December 2024. A total of 103 children aged 0 to 18 years, presenting with suspected thyroid dysfunction, were enrolled. Clinical features and thyroid hormone levels free triiodothyronine (FT3) and free thyroxine (FT4)-and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were recorded and analyzed using SPSS version 25.
Results: Among 103 patients, 67 (65%) were male. Normal thyroid function was observed in 64 (62.1%) cases. Hypothyroidism was the most common thyroid disorder (n=21; 20.4%), comprising 7.8% with primary and 12.6% with subclinical hypothyroidism. Hyperthyroidism affected 14.5%, while 2.9% had central hypothyroidism. Primary hypothyroidism showed low FT3 (1.9±0.4 ng/dl), FT4 (0.7±0.2 pg/ml), and high TSH (13.8±4.1 µIU/mL), whereas hyperthyroidism showed elevated FT3 and FT4 with suppressed TSH. Central hypothyroidism presented with low FT4 and TSH. Common clinical features included neonatal jaundice (28.2%), constipation (21.4%), developmental delay (17.5%), and failure to thrive (15.5%).
Conclusions: Thyroid disorders in pediatric patients present with diverse clinical symptoms and hormone profiles. Routine screening in symptomatic children is essential for timely diagnosis and intervention, especially in resource-limited settings.
Metrics
References
Francis GL, Waguespack SG, Bauer AJ, Angelos P, Benvenga S, Cerutti JM, et al. Management guidelines for children with thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancer: the American Thyroid Association guidelines task force on pediatric thyroid cancer. Thyroid. 2015;25(7):716-59. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/thy.2014.0460
Ferdaus MZ, Hasan AK, Shekhar HU. Analysis of serum lipid profiles, metal ions and thyroid hormones levels abnormalities in β-thalassaemic children of Bangladesh. JPMA. J Pak Med Assoc. 2010;60(5):360.
Caturegli P, De Remigis A, Rose NR. Hashimoto thyroiditis: clinical and diagnostic criteria. Autoimmunity Rev. 2014;13(4-5):391-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autrev.2014.01.007
Vanderpump MP. The epidemiology of thyroid disease. Brit Med Bull. 2011;99(1):1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldr030
Hossen MS, Islam MM, Das A, Ripon MA, Tohidul Amin M, Basher MA, et al. Thyroid Dysfunction Prevalence and Risk Factors in the Southeastern Part of Bangladesh: A Cross‐Sectional Study. Health Sci Rep. 2025;8(1):e70329. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70329
Zimmermann MB. The role of iodine in human growth and development. In Seminars in cell and developmental biology. Academic Press. 2011;22(6):645-52. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semcdb.2011.07.009
Verma SK, Kumar V, Tiwari P, Joge NK, Misra R. Thyroid Profile in Patients of Cirrhosis of Liver: A Cross-sectional Study. J Clin Diagnost Res. 2017;11(12):OC06-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2017/28033.10973
Deng B, Yuan Y, Zhong M, Ren R, Deng W, Duan X. The relationship between metabolic parameters, age, and thyroid status: a cross-sectional study-based national survey of iodine nutrition, thyroid disease. Risk Manag Healthcare Policy. 2021;1723-30. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/RMHP.S306122
Refaat B. Prevalence and characteristics of anemia associated with thyroid disorders in non-pregnant Saudi women during the childbearing age: a cross-sectional study. Biomed J. 2015;38(4):307-16. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/2319-4170.151032
Rapa A, Monzani A, Moia S, Vivenza D, Bellone S, Petri A, et al. Subclinical hypothyroidism in children and adolescents: a wide range of clinical, biochemical, and genetic factors involved. J Clin Endocrinol Metabol. 2009;94(7):2414-20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2009-0375
Chaudhary SN, Rahman SA, Islam MI, Begum S, Talukdar MK, Ansari MI, et al. Thyroid Functions and Thyroid Auto-Antibodies in Pediatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients: A Study from Bangladesh. Am J Clin Expel Med. 2015;3(5):207-12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcem.20150305.12
Kebamo TE, Tantu A, Solomon Y, Walano GA. A comparative study on serum lipid levels in patients with thyroid dysfunction: a single-center experience in Ethiopia. BMC Endocrine Disord. 2025;25(1):47. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12902-025-01851-1
Deshmukh V, Behl A, Iyer V, Joshi H, Dholye JP, Varthakavi PK. Prevalence, clinical and biochemical profile of subclinical hypothyroidism in normal population in Mumbai. Indian J Endocrinol Metabol. 2013;17(3):454-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/2230-8210.111641
Xie H, Chen D, Zhang J, Yang R, Gu W, Wang X. Characteristics of Graves' disease in children and adolescents in Nanjing: a retrospective investigation study. Front Public Health. 2022;10:993733. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.993733
Singh A, Motwani G, Maheshwari A, Mulye S. Etio-Clinical Profile of Children with Hypothyroidism In A Tertiary Care Centre. Int J Med Publ Heal. 2025;15(2):1-5.
Reddy GB. Etiology of thyroid disorders in children: A cross sectional study in a tertiary care centre. Int J Med Paediatr Oncol. 2019;5(4):117-20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijmpo.2019.027
Alqahtani SA. Prevalence and characteristics of thyroid abnormalities and its association with anemia in ASIR region of Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study. Clin Pract. 2021;11(3):494-504. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/clinpract11030065
Gamal GG, Zannoun M, Mohamed SA, Mohamed GA. Relation between thyroid function and iron deficiency anemia in primary school-age children: A controlled cross-sectional study. Int J Med Arts. 2021;3(4):1855-61. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21608/ijma.2021.83720.1336
Abo Elfottoh MN, Kamal HM, Gab-allah AM, Ali EE. Clinical Evaluation of Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Thyroid Axis Hormones in Critically Ill Children. Cross Sectional Study at Zagazig University Children Hospital. Egypt J Hospital Med. 2020;81(2):1525-30. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21608/ejhm.2020.115574
Pimentel J, Chambers M, Shahid M, Chawla R, Kapadia C. Comorbidities of thyroid disease in children. Adv Pediat. 2016;63(1):211-26. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yapd.2016.04.016
Desoky T, Hassan MH, Fayed HM, Sakhr HM. Biochemical assessments of thyroid profile, serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol and cluster of differentiation 5 expression levels among children with autism. Neuropsychiatric Dis Treat. 2017:2397-403. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S146152
Islam R, Akter KM, Rahman A, Khanam NN, Al Azad S, Islam MR, et al. The serological basis of the correlation between iron deficiency anemia and thyroid disorders in women: a community based study. J Pharm Res Int. 2021;30(19A):69-81. DOI: https://doi.org/10.9734/jpri/2021/v33i19A31330
Talwar S, Khadgawat R, Sandeep JA, Sreenivas V, Choudhary SK, Gupta N, et al. Cardiopulmonary bypass and serum thyroid hormone profile in pediatric patients with congenital heart disease. Congenital Heart Dis. 2012;7(5):433-40. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-0803.2012.00667.x
Hirtz R, Keesen A, Hölling H, Hauffa BP, Hinney A, Grasemann C. No effect of thyroid dysfunction and autoimmunity on health-related quality of life and mental health in children and adolescents: results from a nationwide cross-sectional study. Front Endocrinol. 2020;11:454. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2020.00454
Xie H, Chen D, Gu W, Li W, Wang X, Tang W. Thyroid function screening and follow-up of children with abdominal distension in Nanjing, China: A cross-sectional study. BMJ Open. 2023;13(1):e070416. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-070416
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
