Graves' Disease

Treatment of Children

Graves' disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) in children. It accounts for 10 percent to 15 percent of all thyroid disorders in children, and is much more common in girls than boys.

The symptoms of Grave's disease are the same in children and adults. But the eye problems (Graves' ophthalmopathy) associated with Graves' disease are less severe in children.

Treatment options for children with Graves' disease include medications, radioactive iodine and surgery to remove the thyroid gland.

Antithyroid medications are an effective treatment for Graves's disease in children and are used extensively. Long-term remission after treatment with antithyroid medications occurs in fewer than 25 percent of children.

Mayo Clinic recommends surgical removal of the thyroid gland more frequently for children than for adults and, in almost all cases, hyperthyroidism does not recur after surgery.

There is not a clear consensus on the benefits of radioactive iodine treatment for children, so this treatment is often not recommended at Mayo Clinic.

Treatment Team

A specialist from Pediatric Endocrinology generally oversees the child's care, and, depending on the child's needs, may collaborate with specialists from Ophthalmology, General Surgery and Dermatology.

Appointments

For appointments or more information, call the Central Appointment Office at 507-538-3270 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central time Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, or complete an online appointment request form.