Theranica’s Post

Hyperthyroidism in children and adolescents are often subtle and non-specific Not too long ago, two adolescents were referred to me by for hyperthyroidism. Both had presented with unexplained weight loss over a period of 3-6 months. When examined, they have a small diffuse neck swelling due to a goitre (thyroid gland swelling) and mild prominence of the eyes (exopthalmos) Their measured heart rates were slightly fast. Apart from that, they were otherwise well. Blood tests showed high thyroid hormones which confirmed hyperthyroidism. Anti-thyroid medication, carbimazole to reduce the thyroid hormones was started with close frequent initial monitoring of clinical status and thyroid function every 2-4 weeks. Hyperthyroidism is due to an overactive thyroid gland that produces too much thyroid hormones. It is more common in adults but also seen in young children and adolescents. The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is due to a medical condition called Graves disease. Graves disease is an autoimmune disease where the body produces thyroid antibodies (TSH-receptor antibodies) which stimulate growth of the thyroid gland and production of thyroid hormones. Some patients with Graves disease also have protrusion of the eyes (exopthalmos) and a diffuse goitre. Unlike in adults, children often present with subtle and non-specific symptoms. The constellation of classic symptoms of hyperthyroidism seen in adults i.e. heat intolerance, tremor, palpitations, anxiety, weight loss despite a normal/increase appetite and increased frequency of bowel movements are not expresssed well by children. Initial treatment for hyperthyroidism consists of medications to lower the thyroid hormones and control of symptoms. Prompt recognition is essential as untreated severe hyperthyroidism may progress to a dangerous condition known as thyroid storm which can result in metabolic decompensation and heart failure. #thyroiddoodle

Migraine disease significantly impacts the lives of adolescents, disrupting both daily activities and their futures.   Migraine can lead to school absenteeism, an inability to participate in social activities, and long-term socioeconomic consequences. In fact, the negative impact on the quality of life for these children* is comparable to that of those living with arthritis and cancer.[1] A 2022 survey from “The Migraine Trust” [2] reveals the harsh realities faced by adolescents living with migraine disease: >Younger children often struggle to explain their migraine or aren't always believed when they do. >Older children are often unprepared for managing migraine as adults, facing new triggers and barriers in different environments, such as the workplace or independently navigating healthcare. >There is a strong desire among young people and their families to connect with others who understand what they’re going through. Many young people with migraine report feeling isolated, alone, and different. These findings underscore the need for a treatment designed for adolescents and their specific needs. The Nerivio® REN wearable allows patients ages 12 and up to self-administer their treatments in a non-disruptive way that fits seamlessly into their daily routines.   This matters because early treatment and prevention are key to minimizing future disability and preventing the chronification of migraine into adulthood. Read the full survey here: https://lnkd.in/gUEMs_PD —-------------------------------- 1. Powers et al, “Quality of Life in Childhood Migraines: Clinical Impact and Comparison to Other Chronic Illnesses”, 2008.  2. The Migraine Trust, “Dismissed for too long The impact of migraine on children & young people”, 2022. *Nerivio® is a neuromodulation device indicated for the acute and/or preventive treatment of migraine with or without aura in patients 12 years of age and up. Nerivio can be obtained with a medical prescription. As with any therapy, there may be side effects and contraindications. Not all patients respond to the therapy in the same way, meaning that treatment results can vary individually. Consult with your healthcare provider to see if Nerivio is right for you. More information about Nerivio can be found here: Nerivio.com.

Could oral bacteria trigger mental diseases in children from susceptible communities in North America? First Nation children (<6 years old) from different communities in North America suffer from early childhood caries (ECC) at a very high rate of incidence, which affects the well-being of these children. Multiple factors contribute to this phenomenon including living location; however, it is worse for those kids subsisting in rural areas where the ECC can progress into far more serious conditions. ECC is caused primarily by the gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus mutans, and together with high consumption of fermentable carbohydrates and the host’s deficiencies, it leads to tooth cavity formation. Indigenous children in North America have a greater prevalence of ECC (between 75 and 90 %) when compared to the rest of the kids’ population. The problem is those children develop ECC within their 1 and 2 years of age; due to family low-income levels, continuous consumption of sugary snacks, and diabetes’s occurrence. All common aspects of this indigenous population. Streptococcus mutants bacteria imbibe a wide variety of sugars, enabling them to produce lactic acid, which will exacerbate tooth decay. Moreover, it has well established its ability to form biofilms a polymer matrix composed of glucans, also known as dental plaque. During this phase, this bacterium secretes different proteins that aid in attaching to the hosts’ cell surfaces, other bacterial species (Veillonella spp.) as well as fungi (Candida albicans). This ability allows S. mutants to change the environmental growth conditions and protect it against predation by the host’s immune system. Is it possible for S. mutants to translocate from the oral cavity into the nervous system or the brain? Yes, indeed, S. mutants can enter the blood system into the brain causing microbleeds via its ability to bind collagen, according to studies in animal model. In addition human reports found that S. mutants, having the ability to bind collagen, was associated with people presenting cerebral microbleeds, which is a risk factor for dementia. There are no similar investigations conducted on indigenous children. However, it is known that one in four American First Nation children develop a mental disorder and have an onset of ECC. Therefore, it will be necessary to carry out studies to connect S. mutants’ presence, ECC and dementia. To conclude, indigenous children of North America have a higher incidence of cavities than other children. The culprits are multifactorial conditions where the presence of S. mutants at an earlier age might predispose those infants to be more susceptible to developing mental diseases.

A cancer diagnosis in children is a highly traumatic experience for both the child and their family, potentially leading to post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 203 families of hospitalized children with cancer from three tertiary hospitals in South China. We assessed the prevalence of PTSS and its risk factors among both children and their parents. Our findings revealed a low PTSS prevalence in children (7.9%), while parents showed a much higher prevalence (77.3%). Interestingly, there was no correlation between PTSS in children and their parents. Families with a newly diagnosed or relapsed child, lower income, or financial stress were more likely to experience PTSS. These results highlight the need for early and regular PTSS assessments in pediatric cancer care, particularly focusing on families with financial difficulties or newly diagnosed children. Efforts from families, healthcare providers, and policymakers are crucial to provide the necessary emotional and financial support to these families. Central South University Xiangya School of Nursing Nursing School of Xinjiang Medical University The Nethersole School of Nursing, CUHK #PTSS #pediatriccancer #cancercare

Free online event for all UK teens with IBD and parents/guardians of teens with IBD! Two days to go! To register for this event use QR code or click here https://lnkd.in/esy2kZ_H With funding from Crohn’s and Colitis UK, researchers at Aston University have developed a new digital support programme for young people living with IBD, called ASSIST-IBD. The programme has been designed with young people with IBD to help others follow their treatment plan. The programme contains activities and podcasts tackling tricky topics such as 💜 Taking medication 💜 Talking to healthcare professionals 💜 Following lifestyle advice 💜 Telling others about your IBD You can access ASSIST-IBD online In each topic you will be supported to set a goal to overcome a challenge you face. We are now looking for young people to try out ASSIST-IBD for 6-12 weeks and tell us what it is like to use. We are also interested in parents/guardians’ views of our parent resources. To explain this project in more detail we are hosting an information evening on Wednesday 25th September 2024 at 6-6:30pm. During the event you will be able to ask the research team questions about the project. This event is free to attend and open to young people (aged 13-17) who have been diagnosed with IBD and live in the UK as well as parents/guardians of young people (aged 13-17) who have been diagnosed with IBD and live in the UK ASSIST-IBD, co-designed by young people with IBD, for young people with IBD! 💜 💜 💜 💜 💜 💜 💜

When many think of Long Covid, they think of adults, but many children are also affected. Rachel Gross, a pediatrician and population health researcher, wants to correct assumptions that the condition looks the same in adults as in children, regardless of age. In new research published Wednesday in JAMA https://lnkd.in/giy3pyPw Gross and the RECOVER-Pediatrics Consortium report that school-age children and adolescents experience similar long Covid symptoms across multiple organ systems, but those symptoms cluster in ways that vary depending on their age while diverging to some degree from the pattern seen in adults. As part of the federally funded RECOVER initiative focused on post-acute sequelae of SARS-Cov-2, or PASC for short, the study found that school-age children (6 to 11 years old) with prolonged symptoms were more likely than uninfected children to experience headaches (57%); trouble with memory, focusing, and sleeping (44%); and abdominal pain (43%) at least four weeks after Covid. Infected adolescents (12 to 17 years old) more often had daytime fatigue, sleepiness, and low energy (80%); body, muscle, or joint pain (55%); and trouble with memory and focusing (47%) post-infection than uninfected peers.  Adults are also predominantly beset by fatigue, dizziness, brain fog, gastrointestinal problems, and loss of taste and smell, symptoms that overlap with some adolescents’ symptoms. “This whole idea of whether PASC represents one unified condition or whether it reflects a group of unique phenotypes is really important because these phenotypic stratifications have lots of implications for investigations into the pathophysiologic processes that actually underlie long Covid,” Alicia Johnston, an infectious disease physician at Boston Children’s Hospital, told STAT about long Covid’s characteristics. She was not involved in the study. “That will help to define future clinical trial designs trying to understand these.”  The study aimed to learn how to identify children experiencing long Covid and how these symptoms change over time. “Then we will be able to better understand the question we really want to know: Why is this happening?”

The Joss District, Inc. is committed to this cause and is building a new delivery system to serve and support families stuck in our outdated healthcare system... especially in regards to pediatric care and the dramatic rise in childhood epidemics. It's taking families on average 10 providers before finding the right one to treat their child. As the parent of a PANS child who was stuck in this game for six years... we are leaving behind an entire generation. We must do better. At The Joss District... we are. Healing is possible. These are not children who have mental health issues, these are children who have health issues experiencing mental health symptoms. Do you know why antidepressants have a black box warning on them for children under 18? Suicidal ideations. When these children's are then given an SSRI or psych meds because it's believed they have anxiety or depression, it further pushes children closer to the suicide cliff because we are completely missing the mark. This is WHY suicide is the second leading cause of death in children (CDC). This is 9️⃣1️⃣1️⃣. If your child or family needs help with root cause care to help your loved one... we're here with better testing, better treatment, and better support. #FamTech #MentalHealth #Upstream #PANS #PANDAS

The analysis explores the overlooked issue of Long Covid in children, highlighting a "double invisibility" faced by young patients due to the condition's limited recognition and their status as minors. Drawing on 39 narrative interviews conducted in the UK, the study reveals challenges in acknowledging and addressing Long Covid among children and adolescents. Despite the prevailing narrative of Covid-19 as mild and children being less affected, the interviews underscore the significant impact of Long Covid on young patients and their families. The study emphasizes the need for increased awareness and support for children with Long Covid, challenging societal perceptions and stereotypes surrounding pediatric illness experiences. #LongCovid #PediatricHealth #Invisibility #PandemicNarrative 🧒🩺🦠 https://lnkd.in/dY9VsbCA

The researchers found that children with asthma do less well on tests of memory. We can’t be sure what the link is, but we do know that early life stress and deprivation increase the risk of children developing asthma and of the asthma being more severe and less well controlled. So it could just be that the same things that worsen asthma also worsen memory, and the best thing is for government and society to take steps we know will work to reduce maternal and childhood deprivation. It may also be a direct effect of asthma symptoms and asthma attacks disrupting learning, or a more subtle effect caused by inflammatory processes in the airways spilling over into the circulation and affecting other parts of the body. Either way, preventing the development of asthma and making sure that children with asthma get appropriate care so that their condition is as well controlled as possible is crucial. https://lnkd.in/eF5upFWv Original paper: https://lnkd.in/eF5b2_gA

**Is Your Child/ Adolescent at Risk for Diabetes? What Every Parent Needs to Know!** Diabetes used to be considered an "adult" disease, but cases in children and teenagers are skyrocketing—and it's not just the type you might expect. While type 1 diabetes (where the body attacks its own insulin-producing cells) is still the most common form in young people, type 2 diabetes is on the rise as well. What's driving this troubling trend? The surge in childhood obesity is a major factor. Poor diet, lack of physical activity, and genetic predisposition can all increase a child's risk of developing type 2 diabetes, which used to be extremely rare in pediatric patients. The symptoms of diabetes in children can often be vague. You might notice: - Increased thirst - Frequent urination - Unexplained fatigue - Recurrent abdominal pain - Malaise (a general feeling of unwell ) If left unchecked, this chronic condition can have devastating long-term effects, from nerve damage to vision loss to kidney disease. As a parent, you need to be vigilant. The good news is that diabetes is treatable, and with the right management, your child can live a full and healthy life. This may involve insulin therapy, close monitoring of blood sugar levels, dietary changes, and increased physical activity. It takes work, but the payoff is your child's wellbeing. So take a moment today to learn the risk factors and warning signs of diabetes. Schedule a checkup with a Paediatrician or Family Physician . At **Cedarville Specialist Hospital**, we’re here to help. Visit us at: **Cedarville Specialist Hospital** Plot 8E Mma Lucy Akpabio Street, Off Muri Okunola Road, Victoria Island, Lagos State. You can also call us on **08111111607** or send a WhatsApp message to book a virtual consultation. Let's make our family's health a top priority. The children are our future—let's give them every chance to thrive!