Hypothyroidism

Overview
Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the body lacks enough thyroid hormone. The thyroid gland is located in the neck and produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are important for many of our body’s functions and the proper development and growth of cells in the body. The production of thyroid hormones is also affected by the functioning of certain parts of the brain (hypothalamus and pituitary).

Normal thyroid hormone levels are important for proper growth and development. For infants and young children, untreated hypothyroidism can lead to serious, sometimes permanent developmental problems. If hypothyroidism develops when a child is older, there is less chance of permanent damage to the child.
Because the thyroid hormone is so important to a child’s growth, many countries have routine newborn screening to detect congenital hypothyroidism early. In Singapore, when babies are born, blood is taken from the umbilical cord to screen for hypothyroidism.

The diagnosis of hypothyroidism is made through blood testing. Specialised scans and additional blood tests are usually needed to determine the cause of hypothyroidism.

Causes
Causes include abnormal thyroid gland development, abnormal thyroid hormone production, abnormal development of the brain, the temporary effect of substances that crossed from mother to baby in utero and certain medications.

Symptoms
Symptoms of hypothyroidism vary according to the age of the child. Some babies are born with hypothyroidism (congenital hypothyroidism).

Babies with hypothyroidism may have prolonged jaundice, poor feeding, constipation, cool skin, increased sleepiness, decreased crying, a large tongue and an umbilical hernia.

Over time, if untreated, hypothyroidism can result in poor growth, delayed dentition, delayed development and mental retardation. Hypothyroidism can develop in children and adults of any age. In older children and adults, hypothyroidism can cause a variety of symptoms including tiredness, being more sensitive to cold, mental fatigue, difficulty with learning, poor memory, dry skin and constipation.

Risk Factors
A family history of thyroid disease may increase your child’s risk of getting hypothyroidism. Insufficient iodine in your child’s diet could also cause thyroid problems.

Prevention
Congenital hypothyroidism cannot be prevented.

When To Seek Help
Parents should seek medical advice if their children show signs of prolonged jaundice, poor feeding, constipation, cool skin and increased fatigue. Early detection of hypothyroidism and prompt treatment can prevent any irreversible problems.

Treatment Options
The treatment for hypothyroidism is simple. Your doctor will prescribe synthetic thyroid hormone that is taken orally. Your child will need to have his blood checked regularly for his or her thyroid hormone level so that the dosage can be tailored accordingly. For some children, thyroid hormone treatment may be required for life.

Bowling

Saturday night belongs to bowling, and here we are. I scored my personal high score today, at 156!

My first time bowling with clement, we were very busy running to and fro, there is just not enough of us to keep an eye on Dylan.

School update 9-13 Nov

They were very excited when Ms Yana show them ‘Happy Monster Band visits France’ from You tube. They sat attentively while watching the programme. The video clip showed the Eiffel Tower, Mona Lisa, croissant and many more. Parents, perhaps you could let your child watch at home too.


Every week, the children will recap the letter sounds from a - z. This week, they revised the letter sounds c, f & i.


This revision will help them to familiarize with the letter sounds and also to identify the letters accurately.

The children had a fun and exciting time at the zoo on Thursday.

They saw Polar Bear feeding , Orang Utan, Otter, Ostrich and wild animals such as tiger, leopard, cheetah and lion.

They were especially excited when they went to the Kidzworld.

There they saw some domestic animals such as horse, pony, rabbit, goat and etc..

Amazingly the children enjoyed the long walk at the zoo!

Lunch at macdonalds

Makes me feel like going on a zoo outing too.