Does Hashimoto's thyroiditis need to be treated?

Written by Li Hui Zhi
Endocrinology
Updated on September 02, 2024
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Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease. Whether it requires treatment mainly depends on whether thyroid function is normal. If the thyroid function is normal in Hashimoto's thyroiditis, treatment is not needed; only regular monitoring of thyroid function is necessary. If Hashimoto's thyroiditis is accompanied by reduced thyroid function, then thyroid hormone replacement therapy is needed. If there is a history of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, it is essential to regularly monitor thyroid function and, under the guidance of a doctor, determine whether medication is necessary.

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Written by Zhang Jun Jun
Endocrinology
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Does Hashimoto's thyroiditis cause a sore throat?

Hashimoto's thyroiditis does not cause a sore throat; the type of thyroiditis that primarily causes a sore throat is subacute thyroiditis. Subacute thyroiditis is a viral infection and is a self-limiting disease. Its main clinical manifestations include sore throat, thyroid enlargement, as well as accompanying fever and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Meanwhile, Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease, whose most common clinical manifestation is painless thyroid enlargement, progressing to hypothyroidism in later stages. Additionally, it involves thyroid antibodies, especially positive TPO antibodies. Because the treatments for each are different, it is important to note that Hashimoto's thyroiditis does not cause a sore throat.

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Does Hashimoto's thyroiditis require treatment?

Treatment depends on the case. Currently, there is no cure for Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and the main goal of treatment is to correct secondary thyroid dysfunction and reduce significantly enlarged thyroids. Generally, for patients with mild diffuse goiter without obvious compression symptoms and no thyroid dysfunction, no special treatment is needed; follow-up observation is sufficient. For patients with significant thyroid enlargement and compression symptoms, treatment with levothyroxine may be used to reduce thyroid swelling. If the patient has hypothyroidism, thyroid hormone replacement therapy can be administered. (Medication should be administered under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Chen Xie
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Can Hashimoto's thyroiditis be cured?

Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune thyroiditis where the body itself has autoantibodies that lead to the destruction of thyroid follicular cells, resulting in the failure of thyroid cells. Therefore, Hashimoto's thyroiditis can manifest as hyperthyroidism, euthyroidism, and hypothyroidism. Ultimately, Hashimoto's thyroiditis may develop into hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is proliferative and generally cannot be completely cured, but clinical remission can be achieved through oral administration of levothyroxine. However, Hashimoto's thyroiditis cannot be completely cured and requires lifelong replacement therapy.

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Written by Xu Dong Dong
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Can Hashimoto's thyroiditis breastfeed?

Patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis can breastfeed. It is important for those in a hyperthyroid phase, especially when taking anti-thyroid medications, to switch to breastfeeding-safe medications beforehand and to regularly monitor thyroid function to ensure it remains within normal limits. Patients in a hypothyroid phase should also regularly monitor their thyroid function and adjust their replacement medication dosage accordingly. Newborns should have their thyroid function and related antibodies regularly tested from birth onwards. (Please medicate under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Tang Zhuo
Endocrinology
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How is Hashimoto's thyroiditis treated?

Hashimoto's thyroiditis is a chronic autoimmune disease and is the most common form of thyroid inflammation clinically. It can be diagnosed through thyroid function tests, iodine-131 uptake tests, thyroid antibody tests, and ultrasound examinations. If there are changes in imaging or if serum anti-thyroglobulin antibodies and anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies are positive, a diagnosis can be confirmed. Regarding treatment, if thyroid function is normal in Hashimoto's thyroiditis, no treatment is necessary, but close monitoring and observation are advised. If Hashimoto's thyroiditis is accompanied by transient hyperthyroidism, symptomatic treatment with beta-blockers can be administered. If there is a decrease in thyroid gland function, thyroid hormone replacement therapy should be initiated, typically with levothyroxine tablets, until thyroid function tests return to normal. Additionally, daily care is important, such as avoiding high doses of iodine intake, maintaining regular sleep patterns, avoiding staying up late, maintaining a positive and optimistic mood, avoiding anxiety and stress, preventing common cold and trauma infections, and ensuring a balanced diet with high protein, low fat, high carbohydrate, and high vitamin content.