Thyroiditis – a collective term that combines any disease, accompanied by the development of inflammation in the tissues of the thyroid gland. This pathology may have an acute, subacute or chronic course. Each of the forms has its own causes and clinical manifestations. This pathological process is in second place in terms of the frequency of occurrence among all endocrine disorders. More often diabetes is diagnosed.
The share of various forms of thyroiditis accounts for about thirty percent of all diseases, about which people turn to an endocrinologist. Previously it was believed that such a disease is mainly confined to persons belonging to the older age group. However, in recent years, this pathology has become much younger. This pathological process is dangerous in that in the absence of the necessary treatment, it can lead to a persistent decrease in the level of thyroid hormones in the body.
Causes and classification of thyroiditis
As we have said, the inflammation in the thyroid gland can be acute, subacute, and chronic. Autoimmune thyroiditis is somewhat isolated, due to impaired functioning of the immune system, although it also belongs to the chronic form.
Acute thyroiditis is characterized by an abruptly increasing clinical picture with signs indicating general intoxication of the body. With the right treatment, this pathological process ends with a full recovery after one and a half or two months. However, sometimes it can become chronic.Depending on how widespread the inflammation is, acute thyroiditis is divided into diffuse and focal species. In a diffuse species, the inflammatory response completely affects the whole organ or its portion. Focal variety implies the defeat of only a limited area.
In addition, the acute form of such a disease can be purulent. However, purulent inflammatory process is quite rare. As a rule, it becomes the result of transferred infectious diseases that caused the spread of the pathogen through the bloodstream to the thyroid gland. If we talk about a non-purulent form, then factors such as traumatic or radiation exposure lead to its development.
The key cause of the subacute form of thyroiditis is the viral flora. In this case, inflammation in the thyroid gland can be caused by influenza viruses, adenoviruses, and causative agents of mumps or measles. Most often with this pathology faced by women. They suffer from such a violation more than five times more often than men. As a rule, the clinical picture characteristic of this disease appears some time after the infection.
Chronic form inflammations The thyroid gland includes several pathologies that are different in their reason. Some of them are triggered by autoimmune reactions, others by thyrotoxicosis, thyroid surgery, and so on.
Symptoms characteristic of thyroiditis
In more detail we will talk about acute and subacute thyroiditis. In acute form, the symptoms increase rather suddenly. In the event that the inflammatory process has a purulent character, a pronounced intoxication syndrome will necessarily be present. A sick person complains of a rapid rise in body temperature to febrile values. Fever is accompanied by chills, headache, weakness, and so on. In parallel, the pain is growing, localized in the anterior surface of the neck. It becomes more intense with sudden movements and swallowing.
On examination, symptoms such as enlargement of the thyroid gland, its thickening or softening, reddening of the skin in the neck, as well as regional lymphadenitis can be detected. In a nonpurulent form, the clinical picture is much more moderate. The patient pays attention to decreased performance and fast fatigue. Body temperature, if it rises, then to subfebrile values. In the projection of the thyroid gland there is pain, the intensity of which may vary.
Subacute thyroiditis is most often also accompanied by mild symptoms. A sick person indicates a gradual increase in body temperature, which is complemented by other signs of intoxication. In the area of the thyroid gland, pain and small swelling are determined. When chewing pain syndrome, as a rule, increases. Immediately the thyroid gland itself grows. Regional lymph nodes do not change. In about fifty percent of sick people, there are signs indicating an increase in thyroid hormone levels.
Diagnosis and treatment of the disease
Diagnosis of this disease consists of a general examination of the patient and a number of additional methods of research. Mandatory complete blood count, which will be present signs of the inflammatory process. From instrumental methods, ultrasound and scintigraphy are used.
The principles of therapy for inflammation of the thyroid gland largely depend on its severity and shape. In case of mild course, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and other symptomatic drugs are indicated. In some cases, glucocorticosteroids are used to relieve an inflammatory reaction .In case of purulent form, antibacterial agents, detoxification measures and surgical intervention are used as indicated.
The subacute form is treated with hormone preparations.
Prevention of inflammation
Principles prophylaxis Such pathologies consist of the correct treatment of emerging infectious diseases, the timely rehabilitation of chronic infectious foci present in the body, and also of a healthy lifestyle.