2023-12-19 07:01:48
Colds never go away? Be careful, it’s a thyroid problem!
Ms. Cai, 36, has been going to and from the clinic to get medicine since last month because of problems such as cough, throat swelling, and hoarseness, but she has not improved. Until recently, her fever persisted and she felt like she was being pinched in her neck, so she went to Wanfang Hospital to take medicine. After blood and ultrasound examination, it was found that subacute thyroiditis was diagnosed!
40-year-old Ms. Wang had a sore throat for regarding two weeks. She had cold symptoms a month ago. The symptoms improved following taking medicine for a few days. However, this time the sore throat was combined with fever. She sought medical treatment at an otolaryngology clinic, but the symptoms did not change following taking medicine. There was no significant improvement, so he was referred to the Endocrinology Clinic of Taipei Hospital for treatment. The physical examination revealed that the heartbeat was too fast and there was obvious tenderness in the front of the neck. A blood draw and ultrasound examination were arranged, and the patient was diagnosed with subacute thyroiditis. After drug treatment, the symptoms gradually improved and the thyroid function returned to normal.
Advertisement (Please continue reading this article) ▲When the cold never goes away, you should pay attention to whether there is any abnormality in thyroid function!
▲When a cold never goes away, you should pay attention to whether there is any abnormality in thyroid function!
The symptoms of subacute thyroid disease are similar to those of a cold and are easily ignored!
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Liu Hanwen, a physician at the Department of Metabolism at Wanfang Hospital, explained that subacute thyroiditis is an inflammatory reaction of thyroid tissue, and it is also called “viral thyroiditis” because it may be related to viral infection. The pathology is an enlarged thyroid with a solid texture. Thyroid acini are replaced by granulomatous tissue, in which a large number of chronic inflammatory cells and giant cells swallowing colloid particles are formed, so it is also called “granulomatous” or “giant cell thyroiditis”. It most commonly occurs in middle-aged women aged 30 to 50. Its symptoms include thyroid enlargement and tenderness. The pain may spread to the throat, jaw, and ears, and is occasionally accompanied by fever.
In addition, because inflammatory cells invade thyroid follicles, thyroid hormones in the follicles are released into the blood, causing symptoms of hyperthyroidism, such as palpitations, hand tremors, easy sweating, etc., which may later turn into temporary thyroid dysfunction. Low, but most patients’ thyroid function will eventually return to normal.
Since subacute thyroiditis is related to viruses that cause upper respiratory tract infections, patients will experience common cold symptoms such as fatigue, body aches, cough and runny nose 1 to 4 weeks before diagnosis. Physician Liu Hanwen emphasized that because subacute thyroiditis The symptoms of fever and neck pain are similar to those of a cold and are easily ignored. Although most cases can be cured on their own, the course of the disease often lasts for several months. If you do not keep track, you may develop permanent hypothyroidism without being discovered!
▲ Thyroid ultrasound can show low echo in the inflamed area. (Photo courtesy/Wanfang Hospital)
▲ Thyroid ultrasound can show low echo in the inflamed area. (Photo courtesy/Wanfang Hospital)
Even if subacute thyroid disease is cured, it must be followed up every year!
Dr. Cai Canhua from the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism of Taipei Hospital said that in terms of diagnosis, subacute thyroiditis is mainly diagnosed by physical examination. There is obvious swelling and pain in the thyroid gland. Blood tests include a sharp increase in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR_). The thyroid function may be mildly hyperactive. Thyroid ultrasound There will be typical local masses and uneven hypoechoic areas, and the diagnosis can be confirmed by thyroid fine-needle aspiration cytology.
In terms of treatment, patients with mild symptoms can use anti-inflammatory analgesics such as Protonium to relieve pain. Those with more severe symptoms need to take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics to relieve pain. Symptoms can be improved quickly with the use of steroids. After a week, the dose of steroids can be gradually reduced depending on the condition. However, if the medication is stopped arbitrarily due to the disappearance of pain, it may relapse soon, so patients should cooperate with their doctors and receive a complete course of treatment.
If you have persistent sore throat and fever but no other cold symptoms such as cough, runny nose or other cold symptoms, you should consider the possibility of subacute thyroiditis. You can go to the endocrinology clinic to ask a doctor for examination and diagnosis. Subacute thyroiditis generally has a good prognosis and treatment It mainly uses drugs and does not require surgery. Most patients can recover within a few months to half a year.
Physician Liu Hanwen reminds that before the inflammatory phase enters the recovery phase, patients should track their thyroid function every 2 to 8 weeks, and those with thyroid autoimmune antibodies should maintain annual tracking. Finally, when people find thyroid enlargement and neck pain, they can consider the possibility of subacute thyroiditis and go to the hospital for examination as soon as possible.
▲The symptoms of subacute thyroiditis such as fever and neck pain are similar to those of a cold and are easily ignored.
▲The symptoms of subacute thyroiditis such as fever and neck pain are similar to those of a cold and are easily ignored.
Organized/Lin Yiping
Data source/Wanfang Hospital, Taipei Hospital
Image source/photo-ac
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