Health Library

Discharge Instructions for Grave’s Disease (Pediatric)

Your child has been diagnosed with Grave’s disease. This is the result of an overactive thyroid gland, which produces too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism). Hyperthyroidism may cause a variety of symptoms and may affect all body functions. Thyroid hormone is important to body growth and metabolism. If your child has too much, many of the body's processes speed up or overreact. Three options are available to treat Grave’s disease: medications, radiation, or surgery. Here's what you need to know about home care following treatment.

Medication

• Never stop your child’s treatment on your own. If you do, your child’s symptoms will return.

• Make sure your child takes his or her medication exactly as directed.

  • Have your child take his or her medication at the same time every day.

  • Keep the pills in a container that is labeled with the days of the week. This will help you remember whether you’ve given medication to your child each day.

  • Give the pill with the same food or drink each day. This will help you control the amount of thyroid hormone in your child’s system.

• Talk with your doctor about prescribing ointments or artificial tears, if needed, to soothe your child’s eyes.

• Use steroid creams or ointments to relieve itching and rough skin if your child has a rash on his or her lower legs.

Other Home Care

• Use extra pillows in bed to prop your child’s head up. Sleeping with the head elevated will reduce eyelid swelling.

• Protect your child’s eyes from dust and drying wind. If your child is old enough, he or she can wear glasses with side guards to protect the eyes.

• Keep a card in your wallet that lists the following:

  • Your name and contact information

  • The name of your child’s doctor and contact information

  • The name of your child’s disease

  • The brand name and dose of your child’s medication

Doctor Visits

• During routine visits, tell your child’s doctor about any signs of hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone), such as:

  • Restlessness

  • Rapid weight loss

  • Sweating

• During routine visits, tell your child’s doctor about any signs of hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone, which can be a side effect of treatment), such as:

  • Fatigue or sluggishness

  • Puffy hands, face, or feet

  • Hoarseness

  • Muscle pain

  • Slow pulse (less than 60 beats per minute)

Follow-Up

• Make a follow-up appointment as directed by our staff.

• Make and keep appointments to see your child’s doctor and get laboratory work. Your child may need to be monitored for the rest of his or her life.

When to Call Your Child's Doctor

Call the doctor right away if your child has any of the following:

• Fever:

  • In an infant under 3 months old, a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38.0°C) or higher

  • In a child 3 to 36 months, a rectal temperature of 102°F (39.0°C) or higher

  • In a child of any age who has a temperature of 103°F (39.4°C) or higher

  • A fever that lasts more than 24-hours in a child under 2 years old, or for 3 days in a child 2 years or older

  • A seizure caused by the fever

• Sleeplessness, anxiety, or tremors

• Feeling sweaty and hot, even when others nearby are comfortable

• Shortness of breath

• Trouble focusing the eyes

• Bulging eyes

• Weight loss for no obvious reason

• Rapid pulse (higher than 100 beats per minute)

• Enlarged thyroid gland (goiter)

• Diarrhea