Thyroid gland disorders manifest in three primary types: hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and simple goitre.
Hypothyroidism:
Hypothyroidism results from a deficient secretion of thyroxine, leading to two distinct disorders: cretinism in children and myxoedema in adults.
•Cretinism: Occurs in childhood, characterized by the retardation of physical and mental growth.
•Myxoedema: Affects adults, also known as Gull’s disease, resulting in symptoms like skin and subcutaneous tissue thickening, particularly in the face and extremities. Other manifestations include low BMR, mental dullness, memory loss, and slow action.
Hyperthyroidism:
Excessive thyroxine secretion causes exophthalmic goitre or Grave’s disease, marked by a slight enlargement of the thyroid gland. This condition elevates BMR, heart rate, and pulse rate, leading to reduced body weight due to rapid oxidation. Other symptoms include nervousness, irritability, exophthalmos (bulging eyeballs with a staring look), muscular weakness, and weight loss.
Simple Goitre (Iodine Deficiency Goitre):
Caused by iodine deficiency in diet or drinking water, simple goitre prompts the enlargement of the thyroid gland. The thyroid swells due to increased blood supply as it attempts to extract more iodine from the blood. The prevention of goitre involves administering iodized table salt and is often referred to as endemic goitre, prevalent in hilly areas.