A 1-year-old child with cretinism has been receiving 8 mcg/kg/day of levothyroxine (Synthroid). The child comes to the clinic for a well-child check up. The nurse will expect the provider to:

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In the treatment of cretinism, thyroid dosing decreases with age. For infants 6 to 12 months of age, the dose is 6 mcg/kg/day. At 1 year of age, the dose is reduced to 5 to 6 mcg/kg/day. For all children, treatment should continue for 3 years. It is incorrect to increase the dose with age. After 3 years of therapy, the patient undergoes a trial of 4 weeks without the drug, followed by assessment of the TSH and T? levels, to determine whether the drug may be discontinued.

A 1-Year-Old Child with Cretinism Has Been Receiving 8 Mcg/kg/day