Juvenile thyrotoxicosis; can we do better?
Thyrotoxicosis remains a frustrating condition for the young person, family, and health professionals involved. The associated symptoms do not always suggest thyroid disease and patients can be unwell for many months before the diagnosis is made. The antithyroid drug regimen used to treat children and adolescents with thyrotoxicosis varies from one unit to another and yet the potentially life threatening side effects and remission rates post-treatment may be related to the regimen used. Most patients with thyrotoxicosis will need many years of drug therapy if the thyroid gland is not removed surgically or destroyed by radioiodine. Even "definitive" treatment will typically necessitate thyroxine replacement for life.
Birrell
G
G
Department of Paediatrics, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP, UK.
Cheetham
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D013956:Antithyroid Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence; D013958:Thyroid Crisis / Q000188:drug therapy; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy; D013971:Thyrotoxicosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D013956:Antithyroid Agents; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes