Does thyroiditis hurt?

Written by Chen Xie
Endocrinology
Updated on September 16, 2024
00:00
00:00

The most common causes of thyroiditis refer to subacute thyroiditis and autoimmune thyroiditis. Subacute thyroiditis is mainly caused by viral infection, leading to the destruction of thyroid follicular cells. This generally results in pain in the thyroid region, which can even radiate to areas like the back of the neck and ears, with the pain symptoms being relatively significant. Meanwhile, Hashimoto's thyroiditis typically does not present with pain, although a small number of patients may experience localized pain during the onset of the disease, but the symptoms are usually mild. Additionally, the pain in the neck thyroid region associated with subacute thyroiditis varies from person to person, with varying degrees of pain intensity. It is primarily treatable with steroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and generally, the symptoms can be relieved after treatment.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Xie
Endocrinology
50sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Jun Jun
Endocrinology
1min 12sec home-news-image

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.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Luo Juan
Endocrinology
57sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Tang Zhuo
Endocrinology
1min 11sec home-news-image

What department does thyroiditis fall under?

Thyroiditis is a common disease in endocrinology. Thyroiditis refers to the inflammation of the thyroid gland, which can be divided into two types: bacterial inflammation and autoimmune inflammation. Clinically, thyroiditis can be categorized into three types: the first is called acute suppurative thyroiditis, the second is called subacute thyroiditis, and the third is called chronic thyroiditis. Acute thyroiditis is a bacterial infection and the pathogens can be either bacteria or viruses. It is generally induced by an upper respiratory infection, which may trigger a bacterial or viral infection in the thyroid. Subacute thyroiditis is not a bacterial infection but an immunological inflammatory infection. The third type, chronic thyroiditis, is also known as Hashimoto's disease. All three types of thyroiditis can be treated in the department of endocrinology.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Luo Juan
Endocrinology
50sec home-news-image

Causes of Acute Thyroiditis

We generally refer to acute thyroiditis as an acute suppurative thyroiditis, which is a type of purulent infectious disease, often caused by a mixed bacterial infection, such as staphylococcus, streptococcus, gram-negative bacilli, and anaerobes, etc. Patients with compromised or deficient immune functions, such as those with AIDS, leukemia, diabetes, can also have infections like fungi and pneumocystis. Some thyroid nodules, due to events like necrosis or cystic changes from punctures, can also cause a suppurative infection, and this condition is generally common among middle-aged and elderly patients. Therefore, the main cause of acute thyroiditis is mostly due to infections.