Objective To describe the thyroid function test among children with abdominal distention and to follow up the treatment received by children with abnormal thyroid function. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting and… Click to show full abstract
Objective To describe the thyroid function test among children with abdominal distention and to follow up the treatment received by children with abnormal thyroid function. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting and participants A total of 1089 children (median age:30 days (IQR=21–60 days) with abdominal distension were included in this single centre study in Nanjing, China. Result Thyroid dysfunction was found in 43 of 148 Hirschsprung’s disease (HSCR) cases, with 3 (2.03%) having hypothyroidism, 3 (2.03%) having subclinical hypothyroidism and 3 (2.03%) having subclinical hyperthyroidism. Thyroid dysfunction was found in 206 of 941 functional abdominal distension cases, with 4 (0.43%) having hypothyroidism, 23 (2.4%) having subclinical hypothyroidism, 28 (2.9%) having subclinical hyperthyroidism and 1 (0.11%) having hyperthyroidism. Among total 65 cases (9 from HSCR, 56 from functional abdominal distension) diagnosed with thyroid diseases, 12 were treated with levothyroxine (LT-4), of which 9 were discontinued treatment at about 2 years old, and 3 were still receiving LT-4. Thirty-two cases received no treatment and thyroid function returned to normal in about 1 month. Twenty-one cases were lost during the follow-up. Conclusion The paediatrician should be vigilant for hypothyroidism when dealing with children with abdominal distension. Thyroid function should be followed up rather than simply administering a short-term levothyroxine treatment.
               
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