title: High frequency of cardiac and behavioral complaints as presenting symptoms of hyperthyroidism in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Descriptive data characterizing the frequency of various chief complaints and presenting symptomatology in children with hyperthyroidism are lacking. Furthermore, difficulties in recognizing atypical presentations may delay diagnosis and increase morbidity.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective review of the medical records of 76 children with hyperthyroidism to characterize their chief complaints at initial presentation to care and document other presenting symptomatology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cardiac symptoms were the most frequent chief complaint, accounting for 23% of presenting complaints. Major mood and behavior disturbances were also frequently present (21%), but were infrequently cited as the chief complaint (6%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study is the first to describe chief complaints separately from the other signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism noted at the time of presentation to medical attention. Cardiac complaints were the most common: however, complaints associated with behavioral and mood disorders also occurred frequently. Clinicians should be aware of these presentations so that hyperthyroidism is diagnosed promptly to avoid morbidity associated with delayed diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA 95817-2208, USA. lindsey.albrecht@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
authors.forename: Lindsey A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Loomba-Albrecht
authors.forename: Andrew A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Bremer
authors.forename: Dennis M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Styne
authors.forename: Nicole S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Glaser
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies