Thyroiditis

How does thyroiditis occur?

• Hashimoto's thyroiditis: It is an autoimmune thyroiditis (due to antibodies directed against the thyroid gland), and it is the most frequent type and the most common cause of hypothyroidism.
• Postpartum thyroiditis: It is also an autoimmune thyroiditis, which occurs after childbirth. It produces symptoms of or hypothyroidism.
• Subacute granulomatous or De Quervain's thyroiditis: It is of unknown cause, and can produce symptoms of both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.
• De Riedel's thyroiditis: It is very rare and of unknown cause, which causes fibrosis in the gland.
• Acute thyroiditis: It is due to the infection of the gland by a germ, which causes an abscess in the area of ​​the gland.
• painless Sporadic thyroiditis: This "silent" thyroiditis occurs in patients with underlying autoimmune thyroid disease.

Symptoms of thyroiditis

thyroiditis can be asymptomatic or produce symptoms of both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.

In some specific type of thyroiditis, such as acute thyroiditis, the clinical picture is pain and inflammatory signs (heat, redness) in the thyroid region, frequently accompanied by discomfort when swallowing and changes in the voice. There may also be a fever.

Diagnosis

It is important to know the clinical data presented by the person and explore the cervical region, looking for an enlarged gland, or changes in the color or temperature of the skin. In addition, palpation of the gland, if it is enlarged or painful, will also help in the diagnostic process.

This will be followed by a blood test that includes thyroid hormones and antithyroid antibodies. It is possible to find both an increase and a decrease in these hormones, depending on the symptoms present (hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism).

thyroid ultrasound and ultrasound are very useful to evaluate the size of the thyroid and see its characteristics, guiding us towards a specific cause. It also allows the performance of a puncture of the gland for its study.

thyroiditis treatment

Treatment will largely depend on the prevailing clinical picture in the patient. When symptoms of hyperthyroidism are what the patient presents, antithyroid drugs such as metamizole and carbimazole are used. In addition, drugs that control symptoms, such as beta-blockers and glucocorticoids, can be used.

For the pictures that present with hypothyroid symptoms, the treatment used is levothyroxine.

Treatment of acute thyroiditis due to infection requires antibiotic treatment and drainage of the abscess, all in the hospital.

In subacute thyroiditis, the treatment of choice is aspirin or anti-inflammatory drugs, and in severe cases glucocorticoids. In the different phases of thyroiditis, and depending on the thyroid function, beta-blockers can be used in the case of hyperthyroidism, or levothyroxine in the case of hypothyroidism.

Precautionary measures

There are no known measures to prevent the development of thyroiditis. Consultation with the doctor is recommended in case of local inflammatory process in the neck to rule it out.