What are the symptoms of chronic thyroiditis

The symptoms of chronic thyroiditis vary and have different manifestations. Patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis often show symptoms of fear of cold, edema, fatigue, or abdominal distension and constipation. Patients with subacute thyroiditis are prone to symptoms of general discomfort, fatigue, and muscle pain.

1. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

The onset is slow, and when the disease occurs, the thyroid gland is often enlarged, with a hard and tough texture and clear boundaries. Some patients may have compression symptoms. There is often no special feeling in the early stage, and the thyroid function may be normal. A small number of patients may have transient hyperthyroidism symptoms in the early stage, and in most cases, hypothyroidism has already occurred when it is discovered. Patients often experience symptoms such as fear of cold, edema, fatigue, dry skin, abdominal distension, constipation, irregular menstruation, and decreased libido.

2. Subacute thyroiditis

The typical manifestation is severe pain in the thyroid gland. Usually the pain starts on one side of the thyroid gland and quickly radiates to other parts of the gland, the ear base, and the jaw. It is often accompanied by general discomfort, fatigue, muscle pain, and fever. The pain reaches a peak within 3 to 4 days after the onset of the disease and subsides within 1 week. There are also many patients who have a slow onset, which lasts more than 1 to 2 weeks. The condition fluctuates for 3 to 6 weeks. After improvement, there may be multiple relapses within a few months. The thyroid gland may increase in size by 2 to 3 times or even larger than normal, and there is obvious tenderness when touched. Within one week after the onset of the disease, about half of the patients will have symptoms of hyperthyroidism, such as excitement, heat intolerance, palpitations, tremors and sweating; these symptoms are caused by excessive release of thyroid hormones from the thyroid gland during acute inflammation. During the course of the disease, a small number of patients may experience symptoms of hypothyroidism such as swelling, constipation, chills, and drowsiness, but these symptoms do not last long and eventually the thyroid function returns to normal.

3. Quiescent thyroiditis

The thyroid gland enlarges to varying degrees and is painless. There is a self-limited period of hyperthyroidism of several weeks, followed by a transient hypothyroidism due to depletion of thyroid hormone stores, and finally, usually restoration of euthyroid function. The hyperthyroid phase may be brief or ignored. The condition is diagnosed when affected women develop hypothyroidism, which is occasionally permanent.

4. Acute thyroiditis

It is an acute suppurative infection of the thyroid gland. It is caused by a bacterial or fungal infection. Bacteria or fungi spread through the blood circulation, lymphatic channels or adjacent purulent lesions to invade the thyroid gland and cause acute purulent inflammation. Among them, spread from adjacent purulent lesions is the most common, and secondary infection is another possible cause. Acute thyroiditis has a rapid onset, with symptoms including high fever, sweating, and general discomfort. Local lumps appear in the thyroid gland, which are very tender, and local skin becomes red and hot.