ESPE Abstracts

Background: Hyperthyroidism is a condition rarely found in children. In the majority of cases, it is a Grave's disease whose clinical expression is very similar to that observed in adults.

Objective: describe the clinical, evolutionary and therapeutic epidemiological features in children with hyperthyroidism and especially Grave's disease.

Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study of 25 cases of hyperthyroidism, performed at the endocrinology department of C.H.U. of Oran over 10 years,, the statistical analysis is carried out on the software Epi info 6.fr.

Results: There were 25 cases including 22 children and 3 adolescents, the sex ratio is 0.08, the average age is 13.2 ± 2. 3 years. The family history of thyroid pathology is found in 52% of cases. Goiter is the main reason for consultation. The symptomatology is dominated by goiter and tremor (100%), thermophobia (92%), tachycardia (76%). Exophthalmitis is found in 60% of cases. There are signs of compression in only 8% of cases. Hyperthyroidism is biologically confirmed in all patients and Graves' disease ranks first among 84% of cases. All patients were treated with synthetic antithyroid drugs: 10 cases were operated, 1 case underwent Radioactive Iodine Therapy and 2 cases were in remission.

Discussion: Hyperthyroidism especially affects the older child with a female predominance. The positive diagnosis is established by the hormonal assessment. Graves' disease is the most common etiology. The majority of patients are treated with synthetic antithyroid drugs. Remission is less common in children than in adults. Thyroidectomy and radioiodine therapy are the two therapeutic alternatives.

Keywords: Hyperthyroidism - Graves - Children - Adolescents - Oran.