Are thyroid functions affected in children diagnosed with COVID-19?

Abstract

Introduction: In December 2019, a novel type of coronavirus infection (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in China and started to spread rapidly. It is unclear whether the thyroid gland is affected in patients with COVID-19. We aimed to investigate the changes in thyroid function in pediatric patients with COVID-19. Methods: This study enrolled 79 patients aged 0-18 years with confirmed COVID-19 and the control group consisted of 57 healthy children. All patients thyroid function tests and acute phase reactants were studied. Results: The median age was 132 months in the patient group and 108 months in the control group. TSH level was lower in the COVID-19 patients compared to the controls although the difference did not statistical significance (p=0.051). Free T3 level was significantly lower in the patient group compared to the control group (p<0.001). All patients with COVID-19 had normal TSH levels and fT3 was lower in 7 (8.8%) of 79 patients. Correlation analysis showed a negative correlation between fT3 level and CRP, procalcitonin levels. No significant correlation was found between disease severity and thyroid hormone levels. Conclusion: as far as we know, our study is the first to evaluate thyroid functions in children with COVID-19. As in many other severe disease states, ESS may develop in COVID-19. It can be concluded that the pituitary-thyroid axis is not severely affected in pediatric patients COVID-19, especially in those with asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic disease. It should be remembered that the disease course may be more severe particularly in patients who develop ESS.

Keywords

• COVID 19
• euthyroid sick syndrome
• fT3
• thyroid

Thanks

We also thanks Velat Sen for his support.

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