Symptoms of hypothyroidism in subacute thyroiditis

Subacute thyroiditis, also known as subacute granulomatous thyroiditis, is a relatively harmful disease. It is easy to misdiagnose and relapse, which will have a relatively large impact on the patient's health level. Generally, most patients can recover through good treatment. When the disease occurs, patients often experience various symptoms such as respiratory tract infections.

Symptoms of hypothyroidism in subacute thyroiditis

More common in middle-aged women. The disease occurs seasonally, with summer being the peak season. Patients often have an upper respiratory tract infection at the onset of the disease. The disease occurs 1 to 3 weeks after viral infection. In typical cases, the entire illness can be divided into three stages: early stage with hyperthyroidism, middle stage with hypothyroidism, and recovery stage.

1. Early days

The onset is usually sudden, with fever, accompanied by chills, fatigue, weakness and loss of appetite. The most characteristic symptom is pain and tenderness in the thyroid area, which often radiates to the submandibular area, behind the ear, or neck. The pain worsens when chewing and swallowing. The range of thyroid lesions varies, and may start in one lobe and then expand or transfer to another lobe, or always be limited to one lobe. The affected glands are enlarged, hard, and painful. When the lesions are extensive, a large amount of thyroid hormone and non-hormonal iodinated protein in the follicles are temporarily released into the blood. Therefore, in addition to the general manifestations of infection, common manifestations of hyperthyroidism may also occur.

2. Mid-term

When thyroid hormones in the thyroid acinus are depleted due to infection and destruction, before the thyroid parenchymal cells are repaired, the serum thyroid hormone concentration may drop to the level of hypothyroidism, and clinically it may turn into hypothyroidism.

3. Recovery period

The symptoms gradually improve, and the goiter or nodules gradually disappear. In many cases, small nodules remain and are slowly absorbed. If treated promptly, most patients can recover completely, and only a few develop permanent hypothyroidism. In mild or atypical cases, the thyroid gland is only slightly enlarged, with mild pain and tenderness, no fever, and mild systemic symptoms. Clinically, there may not be any signs of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. The course of this disease varies in length, from a few weeks to more than half a year, generally about 2 to 3 months, so it is called subacute thyroiditis. After the disease is relieved, it may relapse.