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