What is Overactive Thyroid in Children – Symptoms and Treatments

Overactive thyroid, or hyperthyroidism in children is marked by overproduction and secretion of the thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4), manufactured in the thyroid gland.

The effects of hyperactive thyroid are somewhat different than they are for adults, but not as severe. Most all children with Graves disease, or hyperthyroidism, have swollen thyroid glands, or goiters, as well as Graves’ ophthalmopathy, or bulging eyes.

Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO): Is a condition that impacts the eye muscles that rotate the eyeball. An immune response is triggered, causing activation of white blood cells (WBC), resulting in inflammation and periorbital edema. The swollen eye muscles force the eyeball to bulge out, causing difficulty in closing the eyelids completely. This results in irritation and dryness of the eyes and corneal abrasions, as well as vision difficulties. (more…)