Symptoms of hypothyroidism in thyroiditis

Written by Liang Yin
Endocrinology
Updated on September 05, 2024
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There are many types of thyroiditis, and the most common one associated with hypothyroidism is Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Symptoms of hypothyroidism include multi-system involvement. In the nervous system, it manifests as reduced memory and attention, and drowsiness; in the cardiovascular system, it presents as bradycardia, faint heart sounds, and cardiac enlargement; in the musculoskeletal system, it manifests as slowed movement and joint disorders; in the digestive system, it presents as loss of appetite, bloating, and constipation; in the respiratory system, it manifests as weak and shallow breathing; in the hematologic system, it can manifest as anemia; in the endocrine system, it can present as reduced gonadal function accompanied by hyperprolactinemia, menorrhagia, amenorrhea or infertility, hair loss, and the skin and mucous membranes appear pale with myxedema.

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Written by Chen Xie
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Can you get pregnant with thyroiditis?

Patients with thyroiditis can become pregnant, but they must keep their thyroid function within the normal range. During the course of thyroiditis, it can manifest in three phases: hyperthyroidism, euthyroidism, and hypothyroidism. When thyroid function is overactive, it is necessary to maintain thyroid function at a basically normal level, and then plan for pregnancy under the guidance of a doctor. For patients with reduced thyroid function, it is even more necessary to maintain thyroid function within the normal range. It is advisable to consult a doctor and plan for pregnancy only after ensuring thyroid function is normal, as reduced thyroid function can impair fetal intellectual development.

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Written by Zhang Jun Jun
Endocrinology
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Causes of thyroiditis

The causes of thyroiditis are mainly divided into several types: The first type is acute thyroiditis, which is mostly caused by bacterial infection. Some abscesses in the thyroid lead to fever and inflammation of the thyroid. Generally, anti-infection treatment can achieve a curative effect. The second type, subacute thyroiditis, is mostly caused by viral infections. It is a self-limiting disease that can be cured by using some analgesics, and even some hormonal medications. Chronic thyroiditis generally arises from autoimmune diseases. Often in the late stages, it causes reduced thyroid function. Since currently there are no drugs to intervene in autoimmune diseases, the main treatment is medication maintenance and control of thyroid function within the normal range. Therefore, the causes of thyroiditis need to be divided into acute, subacute, and chronic thyroiditis to distinguish its causes. (The use of medication should be done under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Written by Luo Han Ying
Endocrinology
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Is thyroiditis serious?

Thyroiditis, in simpler terms, refers to inflammation of the thyroid gland, making it easier for non-medical individuals to understand. Clinically, subacute thyroiditis and autoimmune thyroiditis are more common types of thyroid inflammation. These two have different causes and thus present different symptoms. Subacute thyroiditis might display severe symptoms as patients often experience significant thyroid pain and even general discomfort and muscle pain, which are relatively intense. However, if medications are administered during the acute phase, it might not necessarily have long-term effects on these patients. On the other hand, patients with autoimmune thyroiditis may not show obvious clinical symptoms, but they are prone to develop permanent hypothyroidism later, requiring lifelong thyroid hormone supplementation. (Specific medication use should be carried out under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Luo Juan
Endocrinology
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What are the symptoms of acute thyroiditis?

Acute thyroiditis generally refers to acute suppurative thyroiditis, a type of pyogenic infectious disease. For instance, many patients may exhibit symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection or experience swelling, pain, or difficulty swallowing in the lateral aspect of the thyroid in the anterior neck following a fine needle aspiration biopsy of a thyroid nodule. The local skin over the thyroid may display erythema or heat, and some may also have systemic symptoms of a febrile disease, such as increased body temperature, generalized body aches, and fatigue, along with swelling and pain in the cervical lymph nodes. Thus, the primary symptoms of acute thyroiditis are infectious, accompanied by symptoms of compression pain due to thyroid enlargement.

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Written by Li Hui Zhi
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Initial symptoms of thyroiditis

If it is the early stage of subacute thyroiditis, the patient will experience a fever, mainly in the afternoon or at night. Secondly, there is pain when bending the neck forward, and many patients feel as if they have a sore throat and thus visit the otolaryngology department. Thirdly, in the early stages, the patient experiences transient hyperthyroidism, with symptoms such as palpitations, excessive sweating, weight loss, and insomnia. Therefore, with these symptoms, it is advisable to promptly visit an endocrinology specialist for further thyroid function tests and thyroid ultrasound, followed by a definitive diagnosis and comprehensive treatment.