Thank you for visiting the Children & Adolescent Thyroid Health, which will help all children understand the importance of the thyroid gland.

The ATF believe all Australians should be aware of the benefits of Good Thyroid Health and how to achieve it. The ATF encourage all Australian children to know why the Thyroid Gland is so important to your health and how the hormones produced by the thyroid gland help you grow and learn. Learning how to choose healthy food options which include iodine enriched foods, will ensure your development and body function reaches its full potential.

Stay updated by visiting the Children’s Section for new additions.

The Thyroid Gland

Everyone needs energy to help us walk, talk, eat, play and concentrate in the classroom. The Thyroid Gland gives our body energy through producing thyroid hormones. These hormones feed every cell in the body. Without enough thyroid hormones our body will slow down and become sluggish.

Thyroid hormones are very special. Before you were born, your mother needed thyroid hormones for your development, particularly your brain development. When you were born you made your own thyroid hormones which you now rely on.

Iodine is an element which is usually found in our soil and water, which our body uses to make thyroid hormones. Unfortunately Australia no longer has enough iodine in our soil or water and therefore our thyroid gland needs help from diet choices. Children between the ages of 0 -7 years need 90 ug (micrograms of millionths of a gram) and children between 7 -12 years need 120 ug.

Bread makers have replaced normal salt with iodised salt in their recipes which includes iodine. We can also get some iodine from seafood, dairy milk or dairy products, eggs and foods containing iodised salt. It is very important we eat foods every day which include iodine.

The main hormone your thyroid gland makes is called Thyroxine. This hormone is responsible for our body’s energy level and helps our body digest the food we eat.

The Blood Tests that are needed to diagnose and monitor how your Thyroid Gland is functioning are called: TSH, T4 & T3.

Congenital Hypothyroidism 

If you were born without a thyroid gland, this is called Congenital Hypothyroidism and you would have been diagnosed within a few days of being born. The test to diagnose this condition is called a "Heal Prick Test." All newborn babies are required to have this test on day 2-3 after they are born. Because you do not have a thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormone, your doctor would have prescribed Thyroid Replacement Hormone, called Levothyroxine, which you will have to take, every day, for the rest of your life. Thyroid Replacement Hormone – Levothyroxine is essential for your development and feeds every cell in your body with energy.

The specialist doctor who treats you is called a Paediatric Endocrinologist. Your Paediatric Endocrinologist will see you regularly and will order blood tests to make sure your dose of Thyroid Replacement Hormone – Levothyroxine is correct for you. Your dose of Levothyroxine will probably increase as you get older, until you have finished growing and developing. Once you have reached a ‘stable dose’ of Levothyroxine, your levels will be easier to maintain and there will not be the need to increase and change your dose of Levothyroxine as often as it was when you were growing and developing

Thyroid Autoimmune Thyroid Disease – Hashimoto’s & Graves’ Disease

The Blood Test needed to diagnose a Thyroid Autoimmune Disease is called Thyroid Antibodies.

Thyroid Autoimmune Disease is a genetic predisposition and can affect children as well as adults. A person is usually born with a genetic predisposition for Thyroid Autoimmune Disease – Hashimoto’s or Graves’ Disease, which can cause hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. It is usually familiar, meaning it runs in families and therefore children and adolescents can develop either Hashimoto’s or Graves’ Disease as well as adults in the same family or extended family. It is common to be triggered by a stress or a virus.

If a child or adolescent develops symptoms related to hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, they are advised to be treated by a paediatric endocrinologist.

Children who develop Hashimoto’s Disease need to be monitored closely as their thyroid hormone function can begin to reduce production of thyroid hormones, causing hypothyroidism or an underactive thyroid gland.

Hypothyroidism/Underactive Thyroid Gland 

Hypothyroidism & Hashimotos Disease

Sometimes, children are diagnosed with Hypothyroidism, also known as an Underactive Thyroid. This means that their thyroid gland is not making enough thyroid hormone. Thyroid Replacement Hormone - Levothyroxine is prescribed for these children and they are treated by a Paediatric Endocrinologist.

If you are prescribed Levothyroxine, it is essential you take your medication every day and don't forget it, because without it, your body will not be able to work as well as it should. Sometimes if you are not taking enough thyroid replacement hormone - Levothyroxine, or you forget to take it, you might have a problem concentrating at school, or you might get tired easily, so it is very important you remember.

As you get older, you will learn how the body works and why thyroid hormones, particularly thyroxine is so important. We have a story at the bottom of this page which is about a Tadpole named Roxy who turns into a Frog. Tadpoles cannot change into a Frog without enough iodine in their diet to make thyroid hormones.

You must take Levothyroxine as soon as you wake up in the morning with a glass of water. Wait 30 minutes to 1 hour before you eat breakfast.

Hyperthyroidism/Overactive Thyroid Gland

Graves’ Disease is not as common as Hashimoto’s in children and adolescent. It is recommended children or adolescent who develop Graves’ Disease or hyperthyroidism must be treated by a paediatric endocrinologist. Graves’ Disease and hyperthyroidism is a serious condition, which should not be left untreated. Graves’ Disease causes the thyroid gland to produce too much thyroid hormone. Symptoms can cause weight loss, diarrhea, sleeplessness and many other symptoms.

EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL

Play the 'Find a Word' game to try and locate important words about the Thyroid Gland!  Can you find all the words? Play now!

Read about Roxy the Frog's exciting adventures and how important iodine is for frogs!