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How Long Thyroid Medication Be Used For Thyroid Disorder In Infants?

Posted on Fri, 27 Mar 2015

Question: Hi doctor
My baby is 22 days old and has been detected with tsh 9 intially after one week of birth and ft4 1.59 and on doctor's advice we did the blood test again on 20th day and result are tsh 8.3 and ft4 1.59 . According to doc we need to start her medication. My question do we need to check thyroid again before we start medication as may be it can decrease?Also if we start medication, will it be lifetime??

Thanks
XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Eric Goldstein (28 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Thyroid

Detailed Answer:
Hello. I just read through your question.
Its a good idea to begin the medication now. Untreated thyroid abnormalities are be dangerous. There is no reason to repeat the blood tests. Once the medication is started, periodic blood work will be done to check the baby's progress. This will not necessarily last a lifetime. But it is better to start the medication sooner rather than later.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Eric Goldstein (1 hour later)

Thanks a lot doctor
I am very scared from the time i got to know about this.

My follow up
Question is what is the normal reading of tsh, t3,t4 and ft4 for an infant
8.3 tsh is severe??

Answered by Dr. Eric Goldstein (38 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up

Detailed Answer:
Hello.

The objective is to get the TSH level below 6. This is done by raising the T3, T4, and FT4, levels incrementally until the TSH level is under 6.

Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar