My Son's Thyroid Results

[Essexmum]

Hi, my son who is 10 years old has recently had a number of blood tests as he has been unwell. He is not on any medication but as I take levothyroxine and T3, I'm not sure what 'normal levels' would look like it in a person who is considered "healthy".

Can someone advise on his thyroid test results listed below. I did manage to get the doctors to include T3 by saying I had a faulty gene. I keep meaning to arrange the test but haven't yet, so it could be true.

TSH - 2.18 miu/L (range: 0.27 - 4.20)

Free T4 - 15.7 pmol/L (range: 12 - 22)

Free T3 - 7.6 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8)

Any clarification would be helpful.

Thank you

[greygoose]

I'm afraid I don't know anything about levels for children. But, it might have been a good idea to get his antibodies tested.

What did the doctors say about these results?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Also vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested too, alongside thyroid antibodies

[SlowDragon Administrator]

As you have Hashimoto's he should have TPo and TG antibodies tested

Blue Horizon will allow testing of children. Recommend paying extra for private blood draw rather than trauma of DIY finger prick test

[MaisieGray]

This document from North Bristol NHS trust as a for instance, indicates that the reference ranges used by their lab(s), for TSH, FT3 and FT4 in children under 18 yrs are the same as for adults; so I think you can assume that the ranges used by the lab testing your son's TFT will likewise be the same for both under and over-18s. The differences seem to be in the age group new born to 13 days old.

nbt.nhs.uk/severn-pathology...

[Essexmum]

Thank you for your comments & help. Dr said the tests are normal, along with his b12, vitamin d etc. They are all within range but could do with being higher so i have started him on supplements. Not sure why the dr did not test for antibodies, rather strange. He was tested a couple of years ago but that can change at anytime.

I did try finger prick test but was unsuccessful & he found it quite traumatic so yes, i agree it would be worth paying for a blood draw.

Thank you

[shaws Administrator in reply to Essexmum]

Also make sure son is well hydrated for a couple of days before blood draw.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

[diogenes Remembering]

Levels of FT3 for children before puberty are 15-20% higher than for adults so the FT3 isn't a concern.The North Bristol statement is factually and demonstrably wrong in this regard. The elevated FT3 range for children is well known and that NHS is frankly ignorant. His TSH isn't ideal by any means but given the FT4/T3 results at the moment it doesn't raise big concerns. I think this is a case of a watching brief so ensure the TSH doesn't rise any further.

[Essexmum]

Thank you all, thats really helpful. I'll keep a check on his levels.