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Detection of autoimmune thyroiditis in children with goitre attending the pediatric department of a tertiary care hospital in Chennai.

Saranya Parthasarathy, Sathish Kumar Sundar*, Shobhana Sivathanu

Introduction: Goitre is a common problem among children. The incidence of autoimmune thyroiditis is on the rise. This study is intended to evaluate all goitrous children with Thyroid profile and to look for autoimmunity. AIM To detect autoimmune thyroiditis in children less than 15 years of age with goitre. Objectives: To screen for thyroid dysfunction. To detect autoimmunity by antithyroid antibodies and FNAC.

Materials and methods: 107 Children with goitre attending the Paediatric Department of ESIC Medical College and PGIMSR were included. Relevant history and physical examination findings were documented in a preset proforma. Thyroid function tests, anti TPO antibody and FNAC of the thyroid gland were done. The results were analysed statistically.

Observations and Results: Out of 107 children, 10 had evidence of hypothyroidism. Anti TPO antibodies were detected in 11, while 8 had FNAC evidence of autoimmune thyroiditis. While all the FNAC positive cases had hypothyroidism only 8/11 antibody positive cases had evidence of thyroid dysfunction. Three cases with neither evidence of hypothyroidism nor FNAC positivity had antibody positivity. On comparing antibody positivity with FNAC in the detection of autoimmunity, we inferred that antibody positivity can be used as a diagnostic tool.

Conclusion: Prevalence of autoimmunity was 7.5% by FNAC and 10.3% by anti TPO antibodies. Hypothyroidism was detected in 9.34% of goitres. Few cases of AIT may not have hypothyroidism, may require serial TFT. Anti TPO antibody positivity is an effective, less invasive indicator for detecting AIT in children, compared to FNAC which is the gold standard.