High TSH and normal T3 & T4

[277255]

thyroid result for My 4 and half year kid

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Total T3 ==> 92.0 ng/dl

Total T4 => 4.56 ug/dl

TSH ==> 25.82 ulU/ml

High TSH and normal T3 & T4;

1) what is the proplem for him?

2) pls give detailed explanation

thank U

[Coppernob]

Others will give you a more complete and expert reply but the TSH is too high, suggesting hypothyroidism. You need to know your FT3 and FT4 levels, not Total T3 and Total T4. You also need to know your lab ranges. And then post all your results here so that people can give you a detailed analysis and advice.

[greygoose]

Hi, I'm afraid they've done the wrong tests. Total T3 and Total T4 give no useful information. In any case, it's impossible to even guess without the ranges. Do you have the ranges?

The tests you need are Free T4 and Free T3. Because these tell you the amount of hormone available for the body to use. The Total tests tell you the hormone available and the hormone unavailable, without telling you how much of each.

However, having said that, as his TSH is so high, it's more than likely that his FT3 is very low, which means that he has hypothyroidism. That is to say that, for some reason, his thyroid gland is unable to produce enough hormone to make him well. But, I'm afraid I can't say anymore than that without the ranges and the right tests.

[shaws Administrator]

High TSH - over 10 for Adults in UK. In sensible countries over 3 would be a diagnosis.

It's a pity when TSH is high they don't take Free T4 and Free T3. They never think of it. We need FT3 to be towards the upper half of the range.

Your little boy must be feeling quite poorly and I think he should see a pediatrician who specialises in dysfunctions of the thyroid gland .

Never accept 'normal' with regard to blood tests although it sounds quite positive. Unfortunately doctors know little about the function of the gland and many patients remain undiagnosed/unmedicated..

Take his temperature (underarm which might not be easy) before he gets out of bed for about ten minutes - although that might be difficult for a child. Usually low temp is also a clinical symptom. His pulse also may be lower. I doubt any doctor in the UK is aware of these symptoms.

When he has a blood test for thyroid hormones it should be the earliest possible and don't eat before it. He can drink water and have something to eat afterwards. Always get a print-out with the ranges (labs differ throughout the UK due to different machines). If he was on levothyroxine which is taken when he gets up with a glass of water (tablets might stick in throat otherwise) and he shouldn't eat for about half hour (it's an hour for adults so I think an hour is too long for a child).

When doctors say 'normal' it might be at the bottom of the 'normal range' whereas we need them in the upper half. You may as well get his B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin tested also. This is a link and though it says 'not to fast' I'm not so sure as it has recently been found that eating lowers the TSH which might make the difference between diagnosis or not.

kidshealth.org/en/parents/t...