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Thyroiditis

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The thyroid gland is located on the front of the neck, just below the Adam’s apple (Medline Plus, 2008).

Thyroiditis generally is the inflammation of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is the gland that is located on the front of the neck below the Adam’s apple, which makes hormones that control the metabolism. There are many different types of thyroiditis, with the most common being Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Other forms of the disease are postpartum thyroiditis, subacute thyroiditis, silent thyroiditis, drug-induced thyroiditis, radiation-induced thyroiditis, and acute thyroiditis (American Thyroid Association, 2008). Each different type of this disease has its own causes, clinical features, diagnoses, durations, resolutions, conditions and risks.

Symptoms

There are many different symptoms for thyroiditis, none of which are exclusively limited to this disease. Many of the signs imitate symptoms of other diseases, so thyroiditis can sometimes be difficult to diagnose. Common symptoms may include fatigue, weight gain, depression and constipation. Other, rarer symptoms include swelling of the legs, vague aches and pains, decreased concentration and so on. When conditions become more severe, depending on the type of thyroiditis, one may start to see puffiness around the eyes, slowing of the heart rate, a drop in body temperature, or even eventually heart failure (American Academy of Family Physicians, 2008).

Causes

Thyroiditis is generally caused by an attack on the thyroid, resulting in inflammation and damage to the thyroid cells. This disease is often considered a malfunction of the immune system. Antibodies that attack the thyroid are what cause most types of thyroiditis. It can also be caused by an infection, like a virus or bacteria, which works in the same way as antibodies to cause inflammation in the glands (DeGroot, Nobuyuki, Takashi, 2008). Certain people make thyroid antibodies, and thyroiditis can be considered an autoimmune disease, because the body acts as if the thyroid gland is foreign tissue (Mather, 2007). Some drugs, such as interferon and amiodarone, can also cause thyroiditis because they have a tendency to damage thyroid cells.

Diagnosis

Above shows two parts of the thyroid that could potentially be affected if diagnosed with thyroiditis (Wikimedia Commons, 2008).

The most common and helpful way to diagnose thyroiditis is first to do a physical examination. This allows doctors to elevate erythrocyte sedimentation rates, elevated thyroglobulin levels, and depressed radioactive iodine intake (Mather, 2007). Blood tests also help to determine the kind of thyroiditis and to see how much thyroid stimulating hormone the pituitary gland is producing and what antibodies are present in the body. Iodine testing might also be done to measure the thyroid’s ability to take up iodine (Shipman, Slatosky, Wahba, 2000). In some cases a biopsy may be needed to find out what is attacking the thyroid.

Conditions

Most types of thyroiditis are three to five times more likely to be found in women than in men. The average age of onset is between thirty to fifty years of age. This disease tends to be geographical and seasonal, and is most common in summer and fall (American Academy of Family Physicians, 2008).

Treatment

Treatments for this disease depend on the type of thyroiditis that is diagnosed. For the most common type, which is known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the treatment is to immediately start hormone replacement. This prevents or corrects the hypothyroidism, and it also generally keeps the gland from getting bigger (Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, 2003). Often, victims of this disease only need bed rest and aspirin; however, some need steroids to reduce inflammation and to control palpitations. Depending on the type of thyroiditis, doctors may prescribe a drug called Beta Blocker or Inderal to lower the heart rate and reduce tremors (Health Encyclopedia Diseases, 2008).

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis was first discovered in Japan by the Japanese physician Hashimoto in 1912. It is the most common form of thyroiditis and, like most other forms, is much more common in women then in men, but may be found in some small children as well. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is also known as lymphocytic thyroiditis, and patients with this disease often complain about difficulty swallowing. This condition may be so mild at first that the disease goes unnoticed for years. The first symptom that shows signs of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is a goiter on the front of the neck (Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, 2008). Depending on the severity of the disease and how much it has progressed, doctors then decide what steps are taken for treatment.

See Also

References

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