Srinagar, Jan. 16 -- Six-year-old Mehak (name-changed) often complained of feeling cold even when the outside temperature was normal. Her parents dismissed it as a sign of general weakness. However, they grew anxious when she showed up with recurrent bouts of constipation.

"Her reports showed that she suffered from a thyroid disorder which triggered her cold sensitivity and constipation. We put her oral thyroxin. It replaces or provides more thyroid hormone, which is normally produced by the thyroid gland. In children, having enough thyroid hormone is important for normal mental and physical development," the pediatrician treating her said.

Thyroid problems in Kashmir are often associated with adults when in reality, thyroid disorders a...