Many parents are faced with the fact that the thymus gland is enlarged in the baby. This organ is precisely in infancy maximally involved in the performance of its functions. So, experts pay special attention to him when it comes to children up to a year. However, parents themselves can, for certain signs, suspect an enlarged thymus in the baby and urgently contact a pediatrician who will prescribe a diagnostic examination and treatment regimen.
What is the thymus gland?
In medical science, this organ is called the thymus. It is located in the chest, slightly adjacent to its upper part. This is an organ that consists of two lobes. The laying of the thymus begins in the middle of the first trimester of pregnancy, and the maximum of its formation occurs in the first year of human life. In the same period, iron performs its main functions to the maximum. In the future, the growth of the thymus begins to stabilize, and after about 20 years, the thymus gland gradually involves, but does not cease to function fully. The organ refers to the endocrine and immune systems.
Main functions
The main functions of the thymus are associated with the orientation of specific immune cells that belong to the category of T-lymphocytes. Their predecessors penetrate the thymus gland from the bone marrow and undergo complete or partial ripening. This is what the thymus immune function is based on.
The endocrine function includes not only the allocation of elements that affect the formation of T-lymphocytes, but also the creation of certain hormones that determine the interaction of the neuroendocrine and immune systems. The thymus gland interacts with the adrenal glands, parathyroid, thyroid and sex glands, the pituitary gland, which determines the proper development and functioning of the body.
The fact that the thymus gland is enlarged in the baby (thymomegaly) can significantly affect its functions. Therefore, the reasons that cause the growth of the thymus are very important to medical science, so that in the future it would be possible to avoid the development of such a process or to begin monitoring, treatment in a timely manner.
Causes of thymomegaly
Scientists today do not fully understand why the thymus gland in infants can be increased. However, the alleged causes of the occurrence of this pathological phenomenon in infants are identified. Doctors attributed several factors to them:
- Infectious diseases during pregnancy, including tuberculosis and syphilis.
- The use of alcoholic beverages and some hazardous substances during gestation.
- Prematurity.
- Radiation exposure of the fetus.
- Complicated childbirth.
- The presence of a genetic predisposition.
- Rhesus conflict.
- Rickets, allergies, malnutrition.
- Infection of infants.
- Surgery
In addition to the above reasons, which can lead to thymomegaly, parents need to know the signs of this pathology, in which case they should consult a doctor.
How is it manifested that the thymus is enlarged in the baby?
Symptoms of pathology
Parents can independently detect the first signs of the pathological process, which become evidence that their child has an enlarged thymus gland. These symptoms include:
- a sharp change in the weight of the child;
- high birth weight;
- too frequent cases of acute respiratory viral infections;
- cough, which is not associated with infectious pathologies of the respiratory system and often occurs or grows when the baby is in a horizontal position, for example, during sleep;
- pallor, marbling of the skin;
- an increase in lymphoid tissue;
- bluish tint of the skin during the period of crying or other stress state;
- the appearance of a vascular network in the chest in a child;
- deviations in heart rhythms;
- food allergies and other dermatitis (in the first year of life, the development of atopic dermatitis is most often observed).
Lymphoid diathesis
The presence of these symptoms indicates the likelihood of such a pathological phenomenon as lymphoid diathesis, which is always accompanied by an increase in the growth of the thymus gland. However, they are not strict indicators of pathologies of the thymus. In any case, it is better to consult a pediatrician, who will determine the necessary diagnostic procedures to find out the causes of the pathology.
When the thymus is enlarged in the baby, the symptoms and treatment are interconnected.
Diagnosis of thymus diseases in infants
On examination, a specialist can visually determine only a pronounced increase in the thymus gland in a child, and also suspect this in the presence of the above symptoms. For the most accurate diagnosis, two main types of examination are performed:
- Radiography with an assessment of the location of the shadow of the thymus and determination of the CCP index. If the indicator of the latter does not exceed the value of 0.33, then it is believed that the thymus gland has normal dimensions. CCP from the highest normal to 0.40 is a sign of a first degree increase in the size of the thymus. An index index of more than 0.4 is the value of pronounced timomegaly.
- An ultrasound of the thymus gland today is preferable to x-rays, which is due to the safety of this diagnostic procedure for the baby and the ability to monitor the dynamics of changes in size. With ultrasound, the weight and size of the thymus gland are estimated in accordance with the body weight of the baby and its age.
Only a pediatrician, immunologist or endocrinologist can make a diagnosis based on the results of the studies. These same experts can subsequently prescribe additional tests to study the immune status and other examinations, as well as prescribe treatment.
Thymomegaly classification
Primary (congenital) and secondary (acquired) thymomegaly are distinguished. With the congenital form of this pathology, iron is formed correctly, but enlarged, and this is accompanied by a decrease in its secretory functions, dysfunction of the neuroendocrine system and hyperplasia of lymphoid tissue.
The enlargement of the gland can be of a functional nature (for example, with pneumonia, acute respiratory viral infections and other diseases). In such cases, after recovery, immuno-hormonal indicators and the size of the thymus return to normal.
Organic thymomegaly is also known, which is caused by a direct lesion of this organ.
So, the thymus gland is enlarged in the baby, what should I do?
Treatment
Currently, the management of infants with thymomegaly and the need for corrective treatment are not sufficiently developed. Nevertheless, it is generally accepted that with a minor increase in the thymus, special therapeutic measures are not required. At the same time, they recommend rational nutrition, breastfeeding, limiting stressful situations and contact with people during infectious diseases.
The volume of drug treatment, when the thymus gland is enlarged in the baby, is determined by the immunologist who observes the child with thymomegaly. Every few months, sick children are shown taking biostimulants and adaptogens (pantocrine, ginseng, eleutherococcus, Schisandra chinensis). For immunocorrection, cattle thymus extract is used. Twice a year until the age of 5-6 years, the baby is prescribed courses of use of glucocorticoid inducers (etymizole, ammonium glycyrrhizinate).
With stress, serious illnesses, as well as before surgical interventions, infants with thymomegaly are prescribed glucocorticoids (hydrocortisone, prednisone).
A common symptom of a pathology is a painful cough. Especially it manifests itself during sleep.
If the thymus is enlarged in the baby, how to stop coughing at night, it is important to find out in advance.
For this, medications are prescribed that stop the cough reflex. They act on cough receptors, which are responsible for the development of this symptom, and with the help of such agents, the condition of the child during the period of illness can be significantly alleviated.
Vaccinations
If the thymus of the baby is enlarged, is it possible to vaccinate?
While taking certain medications prescribed for the treatment of thymic enlargement, vaccination should be abandoned. It is impossible to vaccinate a child in this case, since the body develops an inflammatory process and a decrease in immune defense, so the child can be very difficult to vaccinate. From vaccination at this time, he may have serious complications.
We examined what to do when the thymus gland is enlarged in the baby. What it is is now clear.