Thyrotoxic crisis as an acute clinical presentation in a child

Thyroid storm in pediatrics: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

Thyroid storm (TS) is an uncommon but severe manifestation of hyperthyroidism and an endocrine emergency, as it is fatal if it goes unrecognized. In pediatrics, the current literature is limited to case reports and case series. Current knowledge is extrapolated from adult data. This systematic review aims to present the epidemiology, most common etiologies, clinical presentation, and most accepted standard of care of TS in children. We aim to raise awareness of hyperthyroidism in the pediatric community.

CONTENT

The databases used were PubMed, google scholar, and LILACS, with the search terms "thyroid storm" AND "pediatrics". Studies included case reports and case series in English and Spanish from patients between the ages of 0-21 years with clinical features consistent with a diagnosis of TS based on ATA 2016, with or without reported scale scores, published between 2000 and 2022. Variables such as ethnicity, etiology, possible triggers, clinical features, and management components were analyzed and presented.

SUMMARY

We analyzed data from 45 patients. Their mean age was 11.25 years. The majority of them were from Asia (26%). The most common clinical features were sinus tachycardia (86.7%) and fever (64%), followed by altered mental status (46%) and diarrhea (31%). Graves' disease was the most common underlying condition, and infection the most common precipitant. Thirty one percent of patients received treatment with four components; however morbidity and mortality were not clinically significant with those who did not. TS has a heterogeneous presentation with multisystemic involvement. The most common symptoms in this review were fever, tachycardia, diarrhea, and altered mental status.

OUTLOOK

Further studies may be needed to best standardize the diagnosis and management of TS in children. Qualitative studies are needed to best assess the delay in diagnosis of hyperthyroidism and how this may impact prognosis in case patients were to develop TS.

Thyroid storm without precipitating factors in a previous healthy child: A case report

The Thyroid Storm (TS) is the severest form of thyrotoxicosis and is associated with a high mortality rate. TS presents with fever, tachycardia, gastrointestinal symptoms, and central nervous system dysfunction and may be overlooked if patients do not present thyrotoxic symptoms or have precipitating factors. We reported a pediatric case of TS with mild proptosis but no obvious precipitating factors in a previously healthy child. A 9-year-old, female patient with a history of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder presented with the complaint of frequent vomiting. She was alert but lethargic with fever and tachycardia. Physical examination was unremarkable except for coolness in the extremities and a delayed capillary refill time of two seconds. Fluid resuscitation was ineffective in alleviating the tachycardia. Additional history-taking revealed a one-month history of mild proptosis but no other thyrotoxic findings or precipitating factors were found. Markedly elevated thyroxine and triiodothyronine and suppressed thyroid-stimulating hormone on thyroid function tests led to a diagnosis of TS. Methimazole, potassium iodine, bisoprolol, and hydrocortisone were administered. Her vital signs and thyroid functions gradually improved, and she was discharged 18 days after admission without any serious complications. She is currently euthyroid and clinically stable on 5 mg of methimazole at three months after admission. When tachycardia that is resistant to usual resuscitation is found, careful history-taking and physical examination targeting thyroid disorders should be performed to assess for TS.