Down Syndrome Research and Practice Volume 2 Number 3 Pages 112-115

Yet, although it is very difficult to detect just by physical examination, it is most important that the clinician pick up developing thyroid disease in children and adults with Down’s syndrome. Hypothyroidism can affect a child with Down’s syndrome at any age as was shown in a study where none of the cases had yet presented with clinical signs; the hypothyroidism already present in the children being picked up by routine TSH screening as part of an annual preventive medical screen (Abassi and Coleman 1984). It is very easy to treat; yet if left untreated, hypothyroidism limits both intellectual and physical development of the child. Thus the annual preventive medical protocols for individuals with Down’s syndrome of all ages always should include a blood test for thyroid disease, usually TSH (Rogers and Coleman 1992).