Prevalence and Risk Factors of a cute Thyroiditis in Children: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate and synthesize the existing literature on the prevalence and risk factors of acute suppurative thyroiditis (AST) in children.  Methods: We performed a thorough search of electronic databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, and Scopus. Two independent reviewers evaluated and retrieved information from qualifying papers. Results: Our data consists of nine studies with 728 patients, 393 (53.9%) of whom were female.  The prevalence of AST ranged from 1.3% to 14.6% among the Saudi pediatric population. The incidence of PSF and AST is concurrent. Clinicians should be extremely suspicious about anomalies of the third or fourth branchial, especially congenital PSF in children who repeatedly appear with AST or neck infections. The presence of pyriform sinus fistula was notably associated with recurrent episodes of thyroiditis, emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis and surgical intervention. Microbiological analysis revealed that Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus species were the most common pathogens isolated from cases of acute bacterial thyroiditis. US and US-guided antibiotic injections were the main approaches for management in AST cases. Conclusion: Even while AST is still rare, a few risk factors—like recent infections and congenital anomalies—greatly raise the chance that it may manifest. The results emphasize how crucial it is to identify problems early on and treat patients appropriately in order to avoid complications and enhance patient outcomes in children.