Frequently asked question: What symptoms or complaints can a child with hypothyroidism have?

Every child with hypothyroidism has his or her own individual symptoms or complaints, and they are not all equally affected by the symptoms they do have. In young children, the symptoms are sometimes difficult to recognize, because they are not yet able to talk about their symptoms. The following symptoms and complaints may occur:

Behavior: listlessness, being tired and sleepy, feeling gloomy, reduced responsiveness, slowed speech.
Skin and hair: dry, pale and cold skin, reduced sweat production, tingling, edema (swelling), hair loss.
Head-throat: palpable swelling (goiter) in throat, swelling around the eyes.
Abdomen: large, rounded belly, clearly visible blood vessels, naval hernia.
Stomach-intestinal tract: constipation.
Muscles and joints: reduced muscle tone, loss of power, muscle pain, joint pain.
Bodily functions: slow heart rate, low body temperature.
Slowed reflexes.
Late onset of puberty, menstrual disorders, secretion of milk (lactation w/o pregnancy).
Sensory: hearing loss, visual problems.
Weight gain.
Reduced longitudinal growth; small for age.