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Customer question:

How does inflammation of the thyroid gland manifest itself? Question from an anonymous customer

Pharmacist's answer:

Thyroiditis, or inflammation of the thyroid gland, includes a group of individual disorders that cause thyroid gland inflammation but manifest in different ways. There are several different types of thyroiditis.

Hashimoto's thyroiditis

Hashimoto's thyroiditis causes the immune system to attack the thyroid gland, damaging it and causing swelling.

As the thyroid gland eventually fails, it cannot produce enough thyroid hormone. This leads to symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, and dry skin. A swollen thyroid gland can also cause goiter.

De Quervain's (subacute) thyroiditis

De Quervain's (subacute) thyroiditis is a painful swelling of the thyroid gland thought to be triggered by a viral infection such as mumps or the flu. It most often occurs in women between the ages of 20 and 50. It usually causes a high temperature and neck, jaw, or ear pain. The thyroid gland can also release too much thyroid hormone into the blood (thyrotoxicosis), which causes symptoms of overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism).

Postpartum thyroiditis

Postpartum thyroiditis is a rare condition that can significantly affect women who have recently given birth. It is most common in women with type 1 diabetes and a history of postpartum thyroiditis. Postpartum thyroiditis causes a temporary increase in thyroid hormone levels and symptoms of an overactive thyroid. Then, after a few weeks, the gland runs out of thyroid hormone, leading to low thyroid hormone levels and symptoms of underactive thyroid.

Silent thyroiditis

Silent thyroiditis is similar to postpartum thyroiditis but can affect men and women and is not associated with childbirth. As with postpartum thyroiditis, there may be a phase of high thyroid hormone levels that causes symptoms of an overactive thyroid. Symptoms of low-intensity thyroid function may follow this before the symptoms disappear within 12 to 18 months.

Drug-induced thyroiditis

Some medications can damage the thyroid gland and cause overactive or underactive thyroid symptoms. However, symptoms are usually short-lived and may improve when you stop taking medicine.

Radiation-induced thyroiditis

The thyroid can sometimes be damaged by radiotherapy or radioactive iodine treatment, which treats an overactive thyroid. This can lead to symptoms of an overactive thyroid or underactive thyroid.

Acute or infectious thyroiditis

A bacterial infection usually causes acute or infectious thyroiditis. It is a rare condition associated with a weakened immune system or, in children, with a problem with the development of the thyroid gland. Symptoms can include a sore throat, general malaise, thyroid swelling, and sometimes overactive or underactive thyroid symptoms.

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