Clinical symptoms and treatment of thyroiditis

Thyroiditis is a common disease of the thyroid gland. It has various clinical manifestations, including hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. Regardless of the type of thyroiditis, it must be actively treated.

1. Clinical symptoms

1. Hashimoto's thyroiditis

The disease onset is slow, and the thyroid gland is often enlarged, hard and with clear borders. Some patients may have symptoms of compression. Patients often show symptoms such as fear of cold, edema, fatigue, dry skin, abdominal distension, constipation, and decreased libido.

2. Subacute thyroiditis

The typical symptom is severe thyroid pain, which usually starts on one side of the thyroid gland and quickly radiates to other parts of the gland and the base of the ear and jaw. It is often accompanied by general discomfort, fatigue, muscle pain, and fever.

3. Antithyroid

The thyroid gland is enlarged to varying degrees and is painless. There is a self-limited period of hyperthyroidism of several weeks, followed by a transient period of hypothyroidism due to depletion of thyroid hormone stores, and finally, usually, restoration of euthyroid function.

4. Acute thyroiditis

It is an acute suppurative infection of the thyroid gland. Acute thyroiditis has a rapid onset, with high fever, sweating and general discomfort. Local lumps appear in the thyroid gland, which are very painful, and local skin redness and fever.

2. Treatment Methods

1. Static lymphocytic thyroiditis

This is a transient disease that lasts only a few months; the hyperthyroidism phase should be treated conservatively.

2. Subacute thyroiditis

For more severe and delayed cases, corticosteroids are recommended, and all symptoms disappear within 24 to 48 hours. When the thyroid gland's radioactive iodine uptake returns to normal, treatment is terminated.

3. Acute thyroiditis

Cold compress is suitable for local treatment in the early stage, hot compress is suitable for treatment in the late stage, and antibiotics are given to the whole body. If there is abscess, incision and drainage should be performed early to prevent the abscess from rupturing into the trachea, esophagus, and diaphragm.

4. Hashimoto's thyroiditis

Patients with mild thyroid enlargement and no symptoms may not be treated and should be observed during follow-up visits. Patients with obvious thyroid enlargement or hypothyroidism should be given thyroid preparations for treatment, even if only serum TSH is elevated.