Understanding Thyroiditis: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

What is it?

Thyroiditis is an inflammation of the thyroid gland.
The Thyroid is located at the middle of your neck, below Adam’s apple. It produces a hormone called the Thyroid Hormone, which controls your body’s use of energy.
The cause of the inflammation is usually auto immune, as your body’s immune system attacks the thyroid.
An inflamed thyroid can make too much or too little thyroid hormones, and the symptoms will change accordingly.
The inflammation can be acute, which means it develops quickly, with severe neck pain, or chronic and more subtle, without any signs or symptoms.
The treatment will change according to your symptoms and thyroid function tests.

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Additional names

This group contains additional names:
- Chronic Lymphocytic Thyroiditis
- Hashimoto's Disease
- Hashimoto
- Acute Thyroiditis
- Subacute Thyroiditis
- Iatrogenic Thyroiditis

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms vary, are not specific and depend on the stage of the disease. Common hypothyroid symptoms present in the more chronic phase when cells are already damage and thyroid hormone levels fall. These symptoms include fatigue, weight gain, depression, dry skin, constipation, difficulty concentrating or performing physical exercise. These symptoms mas become permanent. The hyperthyroid phase is usually short lasting, and it ranges from a month to 3. As cells are acutely damage, there is a leakage of excess thyroid hormone to the bloodstream, thus resulting in anxiety, trouble sleeping, fast heartbeat, fatigue, weight loss, heat intolerance and sweating, irritability and tremors.

Diagnosis

Thyroiditis diagnosis may include: blood tests that include thyroid function tests- TSH, T3, and T4 and thyroid antibodies-(microsomal) antibodies (TPO) or thyroid receptor stimulating antibodies (TRAb). ESR may be increased in sub-acute thyroiditis.
Sonography of the thyroid gland may be done in order to diagnose anatomical changes. Lastly, Radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU) exam measures the amount of radioactive iodine is absorbed by the gland and can indicate the phase of the disorder.

Treatment

Treatment is not always necessary and is often symptomatic only. If needed, thyroid hormone replacement therapy can treat hypothyroidism. This treatment is usually prescribed for 6 to 12 months. Hashimoto's thyroiditis, which causes long-lasting hypothyroidism requires continued treatment. The hyperthyroid phase is usually temporary and only in rare conditions requires anti- thyroid medications.

☝️ This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult with your physician before making any medical decision.

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Source of Information - We analyze big data of more than 23 million patients de-identified medical records from the following sources:

National Institution of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ University of Illinois hospital