Hypoparathyroidism is a condition in which your parathyroid glands do not produce enough hormones, called parathyroid hormone or PTH. Your parathyroid glands are located in your neck and regulate your levels of calcium, vitamin D and phosphorus. Your child could be at risk for lifelong disability without treatment for hypoparathyroidism.
Causes
Causes of hypoparathyroidism in children are most often a case of DiGeorge syndrome, or being born without the parathyroid glands. Other causes of the condition include an injury to the neck during head surgery. Head and neck surgery to remove the thyroid gland may be less likely to occur in children than in adults. According to St. Louis Children's Hospital, hypoparathyroidism in children may also be idiopathic, or unknown.
Signs and Symptoms
Children who have hypoparathyroidism display low blood calcium levels as well as low magnesium. These clinical signs may only be discovered when blood is drawn for other reasons. Infants who suffer from the condition may appear lethargic and be observed as poor feeders in severe cases. Older children who are able to articulate symptoms, may complain of fatigue, numbness in the hands and feet and muscle cramps. Your child's dentist might notice a weakening of the enamel of your child's teeth; this is another sign of pediatric hypoparathyroidism.
Treatment
Treatment for hypoparathyroidism in children focuses on keeping the blood calcium level stable at appropriate levels. Your child may require calcium injections or might need to take vitamin supplements throughout his lifetime. You will need to ensure that your child consumes a high-calcium diet and eats foods rich in phosphorus to maintain the correct mineral balance. Milk, yogurt and cheese provide both calcium and phosphorus; phosphorus is also present in almonds, peanuts, eggs, salmon and enriched sandwich breads.
Complications
Children who are not treated for their lack of parathyroid hormone could suffer from development delays, both physical and mental. The weakness in tooth enamel that is a common symptom of hypoparathyroidism in children can also progress to malformed teeth.
References
- Medline Plus; Hypoparathyroidism; Ari S. Eckman; August 2010
- St. Louis Children's Hospital: Hypoparathyroidism
- Hypoparathyroidism UK; Recognition of HPTH in Infants and Children; Hunter Heath III
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Hypoparathyroidism Treatment; Robert Cooper; July 2008
- Linus Pauling Institute; Phosphorus; Jane Higdon; April 2003
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