GOITER IN CHILDREN
Endemic goiter is not at all unusual in children. It responds slowly to a regular supply of iodized salt – much faster to iodine capsules.
Quite frequently newborn babies present with sometimes very large congenital goiters which can cause life threatening airway obstruction. Often these babies are delivered by Cesarean because of face or brow presentation due to neck extension caused by the large goiter.
Thyroxin tablets crushed and diluted in water delivered through a nasogastric tube will cause the goiter to virtually melt away in a couple of days. The treatment ought to be continued for at least 3 months, but our scarce supply of thyroxin tablets doesn’t allow us that. Instead the mother is advised to use iodized salt regularly when preparing food for the family.
If the congenital goiter is not so pronounced thyroxin tablets given to the mother and distributed to the child via the breast milk will be adequate.
Two newborn babies with congenital goiter
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A woman operated for endemic goiter – her small child has a visible goiter
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Two children with endemic goiter
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