Thyroiditis
Thyroiditis is inflammation of the thyroid gland. This swelling leads to cause either unusually low or high levels of thyroid hormones in the blood. These thyroid hormones regulate the body’s growth and metabolism.
Types
There are different types of thyroiditis; they are:
- Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
- De Quervain’s (subacute) thyroiditis
- Postpartum thyroiditis
- Silent (painless) thyroiditis
- Drug-induced thyroiditis
- Acute or infectious thyroiditis
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
Signs, Causes, and Treatment
The cause of Hashimoto’s is the immune system targeting the thyroid gland, damaging it, and making it swell. This damage leads to signs of tiredness, weight gain, dry skin, and an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism). It can also cause a lump formation in your throat.
You cannot get cured fully, but the symptoms get treated with levothyroxine.
De Quervain’s (subacute) thyroiditis
Signs, Causes, and Treatment
De Quervain’s (subacute) thyroiditis produces a painful, tender, inflamed thyroid gland. It results from a viral infection, such as mumps or flu. This thyroiditis is common in women aged 20 to 50. It causes elevated body temperature and neck, jaw, or ear pain. The signs resolve after a few weeks. They get treated with beta-blockers and ibuprofen; if these do not work, the doctors suggest steroids. It may reoccur if this happens, and you may need to have to take levothyroxine on a long-term basis.
Postpartum thyroiditis
Signs, Causes, and Treatment
Postpartum thyroiditis primarily affects women who have recently given birth and is frequent in women with type 1 diabetes.
The immune system attacks the women’s thyroid within six months of childbirth, causing a temporary increase in thyroid hormone levels (thyrotoxicosis). It results in an overactive thyroid gland, but after weeks, it becomes drained of thyroid hormone, leading to cause a low thyroid hormone level or an underactive thyroid gland. Beta-blockers may relieve overactive thyroid, and the low thyroid hormone can sometimes be long-term.
Silent (painless) thyroiditis
Silent thyroiditis is very dual to postpartum thyroiditis. This condition affects men and women, and the cause excludes giving birth.
Like postpartum thyroiditis, they undergo high thyroid hormone levels (thyrotoxicosis) followed by underactive thyroid gland symptoms. The medicines are similar to postpartum thyroiditis.
Drug-induced thyroiditis
Certain medicines injure the thyroid gland. These medicines can cause symptoms of an overactive thyroid gland or underactive thyroid gland.
Examples of some medicine include:
- Lithium (taken for bipolar disorder)
- Interferons (used to treat cancer)
Symptoms are generally short-lived and may ease after you stop taking medicine.
However, it would not be best to stop taking any prescribed medication without concerning it with your doctor.
Drug-induced thyroiditis causes pain around the thyroid. This condition can be relieved with painkillers such as ibuprofen, although you may sometimes need steroids.
Acute thyroiditis
The cause of acute or infectious thyroiditis is a bacterial infection. It is rare and also associated with a weakened immune system.
Signs include pain in the throat, feeling unwell, and swelling of the thyroid gland.
Occasionally, symptoms of an underactive thyroid gland and an overactive thyroid gland are visible.
Acute thyroiditis symptoms get much better when treated with antibiotics and ibuprofen.
Reviewed by – Dr. Priyanka, MBBS MD Microbiology
Page last reviewed: 04 October 2022