Thyroiditis Treatment

What Is Thyroiditis?

The goal of this article is to answer the question what is thyroiditis in easy-to-read and easy to understand non-medical language.

Thyroiditis is characterized by an inflammation of the thyroid gland. It may or may not disrupt normal thyroid function. Most often, thyroiditis is caused by a malfunction in the body's autoimmune system. This type is known as autoimmune thyroiditis. It is not usually caused by an infection, although it can be in rare instances. Occasionally, but not often, thyroiditis may be brought on by viruses from mumps, influenza or other causes. Some women experience thyroiditis after giving birth, but it usually clears up in a few weeks. This type is known as postpartum thyroiditis. See thyroid problems in women.

Thyroiditis treatment All types are treatable, although thyroiditis treatment varies according to the type the patient is experiencing. If you've been diagnosed with thyroiditis, you should seek medical attention if you develop a fever, experience side effects from medications, your thyroid gland becomes swollen or painful, or begin to feel unusually fatigued or lethargic.

Hashimoto thyroiditis disease The most common type of thyroiditis is Hashimoto thyroid disease. It is also called autoimmune or chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis. It was first described in 1912 by a Japanese physician.

Hashimoto's thyroiditis occurs when the cells of the thyroid become inefficient in converting iodine into thyroid hormone. To compensate, the thyroid grows larger. Since the thyroid is not producing enough thyroid hormone, Hashimoto's thyroiditis can also be described as a "low thyroid" or "underactive thyroid" condition. The medical name for such disorders is hypothyroidism.

Treatment usually starts with hormone replacement therapy, which keeps the thyroid gland from growing larger while correcting the hypothyroidism.

De Quervain thyroiditis De Quervain thyroiditis is much less common than Hashimoto thyroid disease. De Quervain thyroiditis is also called subacute or granulomatous thyroiditis. It is characterized by a rapidly swelling thyroid gland that becomes tender and painful.

In the case of De Quervain's thyroiditis, the thyroid discharges more thyroid hormone than needed. This condition is called hyperthyroidism. It is also known as "high thyroid" or "overactive thyroid." This type of hyperthyroidism generally resolves itself in the course of a few weeks, but in the meantime the patient may become ill with a fever.

De Quervain thyroiditis often mimics the symptoms of an infection, although no infectious agents have ever been found. Therefore, antibiotics are useless. Treatment for De Quervain thyroiditis usually consists of bed rest and aspirin, which helps reduce the inflammation. Cortisone may also help. Almost all patients recover, and recurrences are rare.

Silent thyroiditis Silent thyroiditis is uncommon. It is so uncommon, in fact, that it wasn't really recognized until the 1970s. Until then, it was probably treated as a form of Graves' disease. Silent thyroiditis almost seems like a combination of Hashimoto's and De Quervain's. It has characteristics of hyperthyroidism like De Quervain thyroiditis, yet there is no pain and biopsy test results look more like Hashimoto's.

Silent thyroiditis happens most often to young women following a pregnancy. No treatment is needed, and 4 out of every 5 patients recover completely. Symptoms are similar to Graves' disease, which is a form of hyperthyroidism, but are usually milder. Doctors treating this disorder usually recommend bed rest, and may prescribe beta blockers. A small percentage of patients become permanently hypothyroid and may need to be placed on thyroid hormone therapy and thyroid supplements. 

 

    

 

 

Books and additional resources about thyroiditis and thyroid problems