Thyroid inflammation – symptoms and treatment

Inflammation can be acute or chronic and causes various symptoms.

Causes of thyroid inflammation

There are several factors that often lead to inflammation of the thyroid gland.

Autoimmune reaction
The most common cause is an autoimmune reaction, that is, an attack of the immune system on the thyroid’s own cells. This condition is called autoimmune thyroiditis or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

Other causes
Other causes include infections, injuries, radiation exposure, or the use of certain medications.

Symptoms of thyroid inflammation

Symptoms of thyroid inflammation vary depending on the type of inflammatory process and its severity. In the case of acute thyroiditis, the symptoms are:

• pain in the neck
• increased body temperature
• swelling of the thyroid gland
• a feeling of pressure when swallowing

Chronic thyroiditis may be asymptomatic or may cause goiter.

How is thyroid inflammation treated?

Treatment of thyroid inflammation depends on the cause and symptoms. In the case of autoimmune thyroiditis, patients are recommended treatment with synthetic thyroid hormones to compensate for the reduced function of this gland.

In the case of acute thyroiditis, treatment aims to relieve the symptoms of pain and inflammation, using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and sometimes corticosteroids. In rare cases, antibiotics are also prescribed.

Thyroid inflammation can last from several weeks to a year and may recur. A consequence of thyroid inflammation may be permanently reduced thyroid function and treatment with hormone therapy.

The diagnosis is made with an ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland and laboratory tests.

How to prevent thyroid inflammation?

Although there are no proven ways to prevent thyroid inflammation, some precautionary measures can greatly reduce the risk of its development.

These are some of the recommendations:

• maintaining a healthy immune system
• avoiding exposure to radiation
• regular visits to the doctor to monitor thyroid health.

Thyroid inflammation (thyroiditis) can pose a serious health problem. It is important to consult a doctor in a timely manner in order to establish an accurate diagnosis and begin appropriate treatment.

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