From the Guidelines
Thyroiditis symptoms can vary depending on the type and stage, but commonly include fatigue, neck pain or tenderness, swelling in the neck, difficulty swallowing, and a feeling of fullness in the throat, as noted in studies such as 1. These symptoms occur because inflammation disrupts normal thyroid function, affecting the gland's ability to properly regulate metabolism throughout the body.
Common Symptoms
- Fatigue
- Neck pain or tenderness
- Swelling in the neck
- Difficulty swallowing
- Feeling of fullness in the throat Patients may experience symptoms of hyperthyroidism (weight loss, anxiety, rapid heartbeat, heat intolerance) during the initial inflammatory phase as stored thyroid hormone is released into the bloodstream, as discussed in 1. This can be followed by hypothyroid symptoms (weight gain, fatigue, cold intolerance, depression) as the gland becomes depleted. Some patients develop a painless goiter (enlarged thyroid), while others, particularly with subacute thyroiditis, experience significant neck pain that may radiate to the jaw or ears. Fever may occur in infectious or subacute forms. Hashimoto's thyroiditis typically presents with gradual onset of hypothyroid symptoms, while postpartum thyroiditis can fluctuate between hyper and hypothyroid states within the first year after childbirth, as mentioned in 1.
Treatment
If you experience these symptoms, prompt medical evaluation is important as treatment varies by type and may include:
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Beta-blockers for hyperthyroid symptoms
- Thyroid hormone replacement for hypothyroidism It is essential to note that the optimal screening interval for thyroid dysfunction is unknown, and the USPSTF found no direct evidence that treatment of thyroid dysfunction based on risk level alters final health outcomes, as stated in 1.
From the Research
Symptoms of Thyroiditis
- Thyroiditis is a general term for inflammation of the thyroid gland, which can result in a triphasic disease pattern of thyroid dysfunction, including an initial phase of hyperthyroidism, followed by hypothyroidism, and then eventual restoration of normal thyroid function 2
- Patients with thyroiditis may experience symptoms such as anterior neck pain, suppressed thyroid-stimulating hormone, and low radioactive iodine uptake on thyroid scanning 3
- The symptoms of thyroiditis can vary depending on the specific type of thyroiditis, such as Hashimoto, postpartum, or subacute thyroiditis 2
- Subacute thyroiditis is a self-limited inflammatory disease characterized by anterior neck pain, and treatment should focus on relieving symptoms such as pain and thyrotoxicosis 2, 3
Treatment and Outcomes
- Treatment of thyroiditis depends on the specific type and symptoms, and may include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, and thyroid hormone therapy 2, 3
- Glucocorticoid treatment has been shown to be associated with a lower incidence of permanent hypothyroidism than NSAID treatment in patients with subacute thyroiditis 4
- However, the recurrence rate was observably higher in patients receiving glucocorticoids than in those receiving NSAIDs 4
- Short-term prednisone treatment may be an alternative strategy for ameliorating moderate-to-severe symptoms of subacute thyroiditis, with a better safety profile and similar efficacy and recurrence rates compared to 6-week treatment 5