Thyroid Disease can affect children, teens, and young people of reproductive age. In Kenya, comprehensive studies on thyroid disease in children and teenagers are limited. Still, regional data from similar settings suggests that thyroid disease is fast becoming common, especially among young people. In many African countries, including Kenya, the rate of thyroid disorders is becoming higher particularly among youth, due to poor iodine intake, poor diet and lifestyle and nutrient deficiencies though exact figures on children and teens are sparse.
The World Health Organization has highlighted adolescent health in Kenya, but thyroid-specific statistics are rarely disaggregated by age or condition for young populations specifically. Thyroid dysfunction studies in African hospitals often focus on adults, with most cases involving hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism among middle-aged individuals, and very few targeted studies look specifically at youth under 19 years.

However, thyroid disease in children, teens, and young adults can impact multiple aspects of physical and mental health, potentially affecting their academic performance, social interactions, and overall development.

The symptoms of a thyroid disorder will mean that it’s hard for students to concentrate in school or college making it difficult to keep up with their studies. It’s worth remembering that along with all the other changes happening in the body during your teenage/puberty years, thyroid disease symptoms add another layer of burden to the body as it tries to adjust to all the activity happening at the same time. This includes the body clock which tends to run for shorter hours than an average teen whose body clock and energy levels tend to run for longer periods during the day. All this hormonal/chemical activity means that a thyroid disease teenager will have very little/short attention span and what this means in practice is that all teenagers and young adults suffering from a thyroid condition tend to move to a body clock which encourages them to stay in bed in the morning and to say up later at night.

Common Thyroid Disease Types and Their Symptoms

• Hypothyroidism (Underactive Thyroid): Symptoms include fatigue, weight gain, poor concentration, dry skin, constipation, and delayed puberty. Children with hypothyroidism may experience slowed growth and development, while teenagers might face issues like irregular menstrual cycles and depression
• Hyperthyroidism (Overactive Thyroid): This condition is often characterized by symptoms such as weight loss, rapid heartbeat, sweating, irritability, and difficulty sleeping. Teens with hyperthyroidism might also exhibit anxiety and hyperactivity, making it challenging to focus in school
• Goiter: Often due to iodine deficiency, goiter can appear as an enlarged thyroid gland in the neck, which can be embarrassing and uncomfortable for affected youth, impacting their confidence and social interactions.

Academic and Cognitive Impacts

• Concentration and Memory Issues: Thyroid disorders can cause “brain fog” or cognitive dulling, making it hard for students to concentrate, retain information, or recall facts during exams. Hypothyroidism, in particular, is associated with memory deficits, which may result in lower grades or difficulty keeping up with studies
• Fatigue and Low Energy: Chronic fatigue from hypothyroidism can make it difficult for students to stay awake or engaged in class, affecting their productivity and learning outcomes. Hyperthyroid students may also experience sleep disturbances, leading to daytime drowsiness and lower attention spans
• Emotional and Behavioral Effects: Thyroid disease can cause mood swings, irritability, and even depression. Teens with thyroid disorders may struggle with social interactions or have trouble managing stress, which can result in academic and social withdrawal.

Developmental Impacts

• Delayed Puberty and Growth Issues: Hypothyroidism can delay physical growth and puberty, which may impact teens’ self-esteem and social development. Slower growth or developmental delays can make young individuals feel out of place among their peers
• Weight Fluctuations: Unexplained weight gain (hypothyroidism) or loss (hyperthyroidism) can also lead to body image issues, affecting students’ confidence and sometimes resulting in bullying or social isolation

Managing Thyroid Disease in School

• Regular Medical Monitoring: Early diagnosis and ongoing medical treatment, including medications like levothyroxine for hypothyroidism, can help manage symptoms and prevent academic and social setbacks
• Supportive School Environment: Schools can accommodate students by allowing rest breaks, adjusting workloads, or providing counseling support. Educators and parents should work together to help students maintain a balance between their health and academic requirements.

Unfortunately, our education systems including parents/guardians and caregivers have not yet caught up with the reality of the teenage body clock, and how it can impact their social life especially when dealing with an underlying condition like thyroid disease. So many young people struggle their way through fatigue and brain fog at school, college, and university and they have no one to listen and understand their plight.

Students find themselves having to take days off, either because they don’t feel well or because they have to attend doctors or hospital appointments during the day.

The lack of thyroid disease awareness in Kenya has caused so many young thyroid disease patients to be misunderstood, victimized, denigrated, and verbally/emotionally abused by their caregivers and their school institutions. This has further pushed patients down the black hole causing some, especially young adults/teenagers to become suicidal.

It’s really important for caregivers/parents to ensure that someone at the school, perhaps a teacher or the school nurse, understands that the child has a thyroid disorder and it has a big impact on their health. At the TDAK Foundation, we do official recommendation letters on request, for our members which helps to support their cases and ensure that thyroid patients are understood at work and at school. You can also refer them to the TDAK Foundation to learn more. The letters not only help the people around the patient to understand their plight but are also a conduit of creating awareness and spreading the word. This has proven to be very useful especially in important seasons of the academic year like exam time.

The caregiver/ parent could also ask for a letter from the doctor to explain the situation so that arrangements are made to give the student extra time during exams, or any other form/type of support that will help the student do their best without compromising on their health.

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