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Hypothyroidism in Children with Down Syndrome |
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Information from Miriam Kauk
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Join the Discussion
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"Do we have any parents of children with Down Syndrome who are also hypothyroid?"
Participate Now
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by Mary J. Shomon
Miriam Kauk, a mother of a daughter with Down Syndrome who was also
discovered to be hypothyroid is a patient advocate for Down Syndrome.
There is a higher likelihood that their children will have underactive
thyroids.
Down Syndrome, with its triplication of every gene on an entire
chromosome, has been aptly characterized as a cacophony of metabolic
errors. One known study reports autopsy findings of abnormal thyroids in
virtually every case of Down Syndrome.
As hard as it may be for people with hypothyroidism to find physicians
who will treat their condition, it is even harder to find a physician
who is willing to intervene in the many treatable aspects of Down
Syndrome.
Recommendations Miriam makes for parents of children with Down Syndrome
are:
- Pay careful attention to nutritional status, as zinc and other
nutrients that are necessary to healthy thyroids are typically low in
DS.
- Insist on having bloodwork done to test for TSH, T3 and T4 levels
- Before you approach your doctor, make a careful record of symptoms,
including basal body temperature, and changes in growth and function.
- Join nutritionally oriented DS mailing lists and talk to other parents
who are seeing positive results in their own
children.
A transcript of the Interview with Miriam Kauk Re: Hypothyroidism and Down Syndrome is featured online.
To contact Miriam, email her at:
einstein-syndrome-request@tbinet.org or visit her website at http://www.tbinet.org/einstein-syndrome.
Miriam's thyroid specific pages are located at:
For contact with other Down Syndrome parents and caregivers, subscribe to one or more nutritionally oriented DS mailing lists:
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Einstein-Syndrome, the list which originated most of the content of Miriam's website:
www.tbinet.org/einstein-syndrome/join.htm
- DS-Nutrition is an email listserv for families who use NuTriVene-D as
nutritional therapy in Down syndrome. Topics of discussion include
implementing the TNI protocol, metabolic testing, educational issues,
general health issues, dietary concerns and more. Subscribe here
http://www.tbinet.org/DSFirst/mailing_list.htm.
- DSTNI is a list with a wide range of topics and general support for
families dealing with Down Syndrome, but with particular interest in
health and nutritional intervention. To subscribe, send a blank email
to subscribe-dstni@yahoogroups.com.
YOU CAN STAY INFORMED ON THE LATEST THYROID DISEASE INFORMATION
Whether it's a free email newsletter or report about thyroid disease, the latest books that help you live well with your thyroid condition, or support and information from fellow thyroid patients, you'll find a variety of resources here at the About Thyroid site.
