Hypoplasia of the thyroid gland - when the thyroid gland is not developed enough

The thyroid gland is the body produces hormones that regulate metabolism and affect the growth of cells and the whole organism. Hypoplasia of the thyroid gland - congenital hypoplasia of its fabric, which is accompanied by a lack of education necessary hormones.

Why there is hypoplasia of the thyroid gland

The most common cause of the disease - the lack of iodine in the mother during pregnancy. This trace mineral is involved in the formation of triiodothyronine and thyroxine - thyroid hormones.

Underdevelopment gland tissue can occur in a child, the mother if the pregnancy proceeded against the background of hypothyroidism (a disease which is characterized by decreased production of thyroid hormones), and the woman is not treated. Hypoplasia cancer is sometimes a manifestation of defects in fetal development.

Signs

From the second or third month of a child's life may notice symptoms that are accompanied by severe underdevelopment of the thyroid gland. These symptoms are the result of lack of education thyroxine Thyroxine - the main thyroid hormone   and triiodothyronine. These include:

• Constant drowsiness;
• Lethargy;
• Decreased appetite;
• The lack of a normal reaction of the child to sound and light;
• Hoarse voice;
• The refusal of the child from eating;
• Constipation;
• Jaundice that persists longer than normal;
• Violation of the pronunciation of sounds and words.

Thyroid hormones are essential for normal formation and operation of the central nervous system of the child. If a deficiency is not remedied in time, further develop cretinism - a disease which is characterized by delayed mental and physical development, and a variety of neurological disorders. There are two forms of cretinism: myxedema and nervous.

Myxedema form is characterized by short stature and disproportionate physique. In these patients, short limbs and neck, large head, depressed nasal bridge, small slanting eyes.

The umbilicus is low, while the belly jutting. Skin thickening and coarse, brittle hair and usually grow very slowly. Nails thinned, striated in the longitudinal or transverse directions. In the field of knee and elbow joints may be affected by hyperkeratosis - a significant thickening of the horny layer of the epidermis.

Hoarse voice is the result of swelling and thickening of the vocal cords. Disrupted the gonads and secondary sexual characteristics are usually underdeveloped.

Movement of patients slowed and clumsy, for these people are characterized by a waddling gait. Significantly delayed speech development.

In the most severe cases of myxedema appear edema. The cavities of the body accumulate fluid that looks like mucus. The patient's face becomes swollen, its contours are smoothed, the eye slits reduced. Due to the swelling of the mucous membranes of the nose and the eustachian tubes disturbed breathing and hearing. The mouth is usually slightly open, tongue extended, on the edges of the depressions are visible teeth.

By reducing the levels of thyroid hormones Thyroid hormones: mechanism of action and physiological effects   Bradycardia is observed (a condition in which the heart rate is less than sixty per minute). Because of insufficient peripheral circulation skin pale and cold.

Contractility of the myocardium (heart muscle) in patients less than in healthy people. Heart gradually increases in size in the pericardial cavity (outer lining of the heart of the connective tissue) accumulate liquid with a high content of protein therein and cholesterol.

Due to insufficient blood flow is disturbed functioning of the kidneys. Atrophy (thinning) of the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines. Due to violations of the motor (motor) function of the digestive tract slows down the promotion of its contents, resulting in nausea, vomiting and gastric distension, and in severe cases - to intestinal obstruction.

In the gut reduces the absorption of calcium, thereby changing the production of hormones that regulate the level of microelements in the blood and in the bone. Due to the reduced absorption of iron deficiency anemia occurs.

Nervous form of cretinism is characterized by severe disorders of speech and hearing, which in some cases reach the degree of deaf-mutism. Intellect is reduced, sometimes up to profound mental retardation Mental retardation - if the mind is underdeveloped . There are neuromuscular disorders that can be spastic-hypotonic (decreased muscle tone, which is combined with spasms) and hypotonic-hyperkinetic (against the background of reduced muscle tone there is an increased mobility).

Diagnostics

To identify hypoplasia Hypoplasia - a congenital malformation of the fetus   thyroid and time to begin treatment, the child should once a year to visit the endocrinologist. If necessary, the doctor will prescribe ultrasound and analysis of blood serum for the content of her thyroid hormones.

You may also need a bone age determination. In children with hypoplasia of the thyroid gland, he will be less than actual.

Treatment

The prognosis depends on the age at which the disease was detected, and the degree of hormone deficiency. The earlier received treatment, the less irreversible changes occur.

Treatment of thyroid hypoplasia is a substitution, that is, the patient should take tireodnye hormones throughout life. If the child will receive the necessary drugs in the first months of life, the defects in his development will be minimal.

If treatment begins later in life, the medications will help eliminate the symptoms of lack of hormone glands. But it will remain impaired physical and psychological development.

Hypoplasia of the thyroid gland - a condition which is accompanied by a slowing of metabolic processes in the body and abnormalities in the child's development. If the patient from an early age will receive hormonal preparations, these changes are not expressed.