Thyroiditis is inflammation of the thyroid gland that can occur due to various situations, such as changes in immunity, infections or medication use, for example, which can occur acutely, in which progression is faster, or chronically, in which inflammation occurs. Gradually.
When thyroid inflammation occurs, signs and symptoms, such as neck pain, difficulty swallowing, fever and chills, may also have consequences such as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.
- It is important that thyroiditis is identified and treated as soon as the first signs and symptoms appear.
- As in some cases there is a high chance of recovery.
- Treatment of thyroiditis is indicated by the endocrinologist and varies depending on the cause and therefore the type of thyroiditis.
Depending on the cause of thyroid inflammation, thyroiditis can be classified into certain types, the main ones being:
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is the most common type of chronic thyroiditis and is most common in women ages 30 to 50, although it can occur at any stage of life. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease in which the body produces antibodies that eventually attack thyroid cells, causing inflammation, changes in their function and decreased thyroid hormone synthesis.
Main symptoms: The main symptom is an enlarged thyroid, also called goiter, and it is not common to cause pain. There may also be symptoms of hypothyroidism, such as fatigue, drowsiness, dry skin and lack of concentration, for example, but it can also alternate with periods of hyperthyroidism, with symptoms such as palpitations, insomnia and weight loss.
Treatment: Treatment is established by the endocrinologist and thyroid hormone replacement with levothyroxine is generally indicated, however, its indication depends on thyroid function values, which can be verified by free TSH and T4 blood tests.
Learn more about Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
Quervain thyroiditis occurs as a result of virus infections such as mumps, influenza, adenovirus, ecovirus or Coxsackie, for example, being more common in women between the ages of 30 and 50. This disease causes severe inflammation of the thyroid and the destruction of its cells.
Main symptoms: pain in the thyroid region, which may radiate to the jaw or ears. The gland may enlarge slightly, causing a sore throat and difficulty swallowing. There may also be symptoms of respiratory tract infection, such as coughing and production of secretions.
Treatment: Treatment of this type of thyroiditis is done with medications to relieve symptoms, especially with anti-inflammatory drugs, such as naproxen, for example. In case of severe or persistent symptoms, the endocrinologist may indicate the use of corticosteroids, such as prednisone.
To confirm this type of thyroiditis, your doctor may order tests such as VSG, which identifies the presence of inflammation, in addition to the radioactive iodine capture test, which evaluates thyroid function. If there are still doubts, your doctor may perform a thyroid puncture, which may exclude other causes, such as a cyst or cancer, for example. Learn more about thyroid tests.
Lymphocytic thyroiditis, also called silent or painless, is also caused by autoimmunity, in which antibodies produced in the body attack the thyroid, being more common in women aged 30 to 60.
Main symptoms: Lymphocytic thyroiditis usually does not cause pain or tenderness in the thyroid, but stimulates the release of thyroid hormones into the bloodstream, which can cause a period with symptoms of hyperthyroidism, which usually recovers within a few weeks to a few months. In some cases, there may also be a brief period of hypothyroidism.
Treatment: Lymphocytic thyroiditis does not have a specific treatment and control of symptoms of hyperthyroidism is indicated. In some cases, your doctor may recommend using medications such as propranolol to monitor your heart rate in hyperthyroidism or hormone replacement in the hypothyroid phase, for example.
Riedel thyroiditis, also known as fibrous thyroiditis, is another rare type of chronic thyroiditis that causes thyroid damage and fibrosis slowly and gradually, which can cause hypothyroidism.
Main symptoms: Riedel’s thyroiditis causes an unobstructed thyroid enlargement, but can cause a feeling of heaviness in the neck, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, choking sensation and shortness of breath.
Treatment: Treatment of this type of thyroiditis is done with medicines to reduce inflammatory activity, such as corticosteroids, tamoxifen or methotrexate, for example. Your doctor may also indicate thyroid hormone replacement, when thyroid function is impaired, and surgery if symptoms of airway compression are severe.
Other less common causes of thyroiditis include those caused by drug poisoning, such as chemotherapy or amiodarone. Actinic thyroiditis is caused by radiation therapy in the neck area, which can cause inflammation or inhibition of thyroid cell function.
There is also thyroiditis caused by infections by staphylococcal or streptococcal bacteria, or by fungi, such as Aspergillus or Candida, for example, or by certain parasites and mycobacteria.