THYROIDITIS

General Information

DEFINITION--Inflammation of the thyroid gland.

BODY PARTS INVOLVED--Thyroid gland, a hormone-producing organ at the base of the neck, next to the trachea (windpipe).

SEX OR AGE MOST AFFECTED--Middle-aged persons of both sexes between ages 30 and 50, but more common in women.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

• Enlarged, painful, tender thyroid gland.
• Fever.
• Pain in the jaw or ears (sometimes).
• Hyperthyroidism (rapid heartbeat, nervousness, tremor and rapid weight loss).

CAUSES

• Disorder of the autoimmune system (especially Hashimoto's and postpartum thyroiditis).
• Various viruses, such as mumps or influenza.
• Bacterial infection of the thyroid gland (rare).

RISK INCREASES WITH

• Recent illness, such as tuberculosis or any infection.
• Pregnancy.
• Family history of thyroiditis.
• Previous thyroid disorders.

HOW TO PREVENT--No specific preventive measures.

What To Expect

DIAGNOSTIC MEASURES--

• Your own observation of symptoms.
• Medical history and physical exam by a doctor.
• Laboratory blood counts and thyroid radioiodine uptake and scan, and rarely, ultrasound (See Glossary).

APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE

• Self-care after diagnosis.
• Doctor's treatment. Consultation with an endocrinologist may be valuable.
• Drug treatment will depend on type of thyroiditis.
• Surgery to relieve pressure on adjacent areas of the neck or to drain an abscess (rare).

POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS--Permanent loss of thyroid function, requiring lifelong thyroid-hormone replacement.

PROBABLE OUTCOME--Usually curable with treatment. Some persons recover spontaneously. Regular medical follow-up is recommended after the condition is apparently cured.

How To Treat

GENERAL MEASURES--

• Follow instructions from your doctor about medications and follow-up studies to determine the effectiveness of the treatment.
• See Resources for Additional Information.

MEDICATION--Your doctor may prescribe:

• Antithyroid medication or thyroid replacement hormones, depending on the activity of your thyroid hormones.
• Beta-adrenergic blockers to suppress symptoms of an overactive thyroid.
• Antibiotics to fight infection, if necessary.
• Cortisone drugs to decrease inflammation (rare).
• Aspirin in high doses to help inflammation subside.
• Pain medication if needed.

ACTIVITY--Resume your normal activities as soon as symptoms improve.

DIET--No special diet.

Call Your Doctor If

• You have symptoms of thyroiditis.
• The following occurs during treatment: Fever and redness of the thyroid gland. Lethargy.
• New, unexplained symptoms develop. Drugs used in treatment may produce side effects.