All issues > Volume 48(8); 2005

Clinical Lecture

Korean J Pediatr. 2005;48(8):779-805. Published online August 15, 2005.

Hypothyroidism

Jong Duck JD Kim¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Korea

Correspondence Jong Duck JD Kim ,Email: kjd20104@wonkwang.ac.kr

Abstract

Hypothyroidism is a deficiency in thyroid hormone secretion by the thyroid gland and a defect in thyroid hormonal receptor activity. It is categorized by the two major forms in children, the one is congenital hypothyroidism and the other is acquired hypothyroidism. Congenital hypothyroidism is one of the commonest treatable causes of mental retardation and occurs in 1 in 3,000-4,000 infants worldwide. Acquired hypothyroidism is a diseases that have an onset usually after 6 months of age and it may be relate to deceleration in linear growth. The objectives of this article are obtain general and practical concepts of congenital and acquired hypothyroidism during infancy, childhood, and adolescence.

Keywords :Congenital , Acquired , Hypothyroidism