Post-birth thyroiditis: What to know

The article was consulted professionally with Associate Professor, PhD, Dr. Hoang Dang Mech – Head of Medical Examination and Internal Medicine Department – Medical Examination and Internal Medicine Department – Share99 Ha Long International Health Hub.

Post-birth thyroiditis is a pathology encountered in about 5-7% of women after childbirth. Since it occurs in the early stages after birth, the signs of the disease are of little interest or misunderstood as a stressed maternity during the care of the young. This causes the patient to miss the opportunity to detect the disease early and treat it effectively.

1. Overview of post-birth thyroiditis

Post-birth thyroiditis is a thyroid disorder in women. This is the inflammatory process of the thyroid gland that occurs in the first year after the maternity of childbirth for which the previous thyroid gland is completely normal. Thyroid disease in this woman is not uncommon but is easily confused with post-birth stress or psychotic disorder.

In the majority of women with post-birththyroiditis , thyroid function will return to normal after about 12-18 months from the moment the first symptom appears. However, there are also some complications that cause the patient to have long-term treatment.

2. Causes of post-birth thyroiditis

Menstruation is high after childbirth

Women with the disease often have higher than normal levels of antithyroid antibodies during pregnancy and after birth

To date, the cause of post-birth thyroiditis has not been clearly identified.

However, many studies show that women with the disease often have higher levels of antithyroid antibodies than usual during pregnancy and after birth. Therefore, doctors assume that women with post-birth thyroiditis are caused by some autothyroid thyroid disease. During pregnancy, the immune system disorder is a factor that causes the disease to break out. Patients with a family history of autothyroid thyroid disease are also at increased risk for thyroid disorders after childbirth.

Besides, people with gestational thyroid disorders are also prone to thyroid disorders in the post-maternity period.

3. Symptoms of post-birth thyroiditis

When you are attacked by a dizzy headache that causes fatigue

Fatigue, insomnia can be symptoms due to inflamed thyroid gland

Symptoms of post-birth thyroiditis are nons specific, easily confusing with other diseases. Accordingly, the post-birth thyroiditis process usually undergoes 2 phases:

First, the thyroid gland is inflamed, producing a lot of thyroid hormones, causing symptoms of superthyroidism such as:

  • Fatigue, insomnia;
  • Anxious, easily angry;
  • Irregular menstruation;
  • Tremors, heart beatings are fast and strong;
  • Unsymed weight loss;
  • Voice changes;
  • Hearing loss and libido;
  • Poor heat, fear of heat.

These symptoms usually occur after birth about 1-4 months, lasting about 1-3 months. However, because they occur in the early stages of post-birth, these symptoms are rarely taken care of or misunderstood because the mother is stressed during the care of the young child.

After that, thyroid cells become inactive, not producing the necessary amount of hormones according to the body's needs, leading to phase 2 with manifestations of insyroidism such as:

  • Menstrual disorders caused by a low content of thyroid hormones interfere with ovulation;
  • Fatigue, aches and pains, stiffness of the joint muscles;
  • Unn control weight gain;
  • Constipation;
  • Dry, fragile skin and hair;
  • Fear of cold;
  • Less focused.

Symptoms of insyroidism occur after birth about 4-8 months and can last 9-12 months. However, sometimes post-birth thyroiditis only manifests itself in the manifestation of high armor or thyroid failure without always following the above 2-phase order.

Despite causing a lot of trouble, statistics show that up to 80% of women with thyroid disorders return to normal after about 1 year without treatment. In cases where symptoms do not decrease over time, some complications may be faced such as cardiovascular disease, bone brittleness, or vision problems. More seriously, prolonged post-birth thyroiditis can also affect fertility by suppressing ovulation.

4. Prevention of post-birth thyroiditis

Women who have a history of thyroid disorders will be consulted by their doctor on an appropriate diet to prevent post-birth thyroiditis. And for those who want to prevent post-birth thyroid disorders, the following methods can be applied:

4.1 Eating appropriately

Add fruits, cereals, lean meats to the diet. These foods are very healthy and breast milk;

4.2 Post-birth exercise

Start with gentle exercises, then gradually increase the intensity according to the state of self-health;

4.3 Getting enough sleep

Has important implications for the health and ability to produce breast milk. If you have armor, you need to limit your intake of iodine foods and dairy products such as sea fish, sea crab, seaweed, iodine salt, fish sauce, watercress, butter, cream, cheese, yogurt,… and regular medical examinations and screenings for thyroiditis conditions to receive appropriate advice from a specialist.

5. Methods of diagnosis of post-birth thyroiditis

  • Ask for medical history, physical examination based on disease symptoms;
  • Hormone tests: Blood tests to quand quantities hormones produced by the thyroid gland and the sedath gland;
  • Antibody testing: Since Hashimoto's disease is an auto-immune disease, the cause of the disease may be associated with the creation of abnormal antibodies. Blood tests can confirm the presence of antibodies to thyroid peroxidase – a hormone that plays an important role in the production of thyroid hormones;
  • Imaging techniques such as measuring radioactive iodine absorption can also be performed.

Does a blood test detect drug addiction

Blood tests to quand quantities hormones produced by the thyroid gland and the remeas glands

6. Therapeutic measures

According to statistics, about 80% of patients with post-birth thyroiditis will return to normal after 1 year. Therefore, if the symptoms of the hethyroidism phase are unknown, treatment is not required. If the symptoms are clear, symptomatic treatment with sympathetic beta blockers should be treated.

At the phase of thyroid failure usually does not require treatment. If the phase of thyroid failure persists, the symptoms of thyroidism are clear, then levothyroxine should be treated and should be discontinued after 6-9 months of taking the drug to re-evaluate the thyroid condition.

In case the patient and his family feel too worried about post-birth thyroiditis, it is recommended to go to the Endo noisychist – Share99 International Health Hub for examination and receive the best advice in the prevention and treatment of the disease.

Share99 Health Hub owns a system of modern medical equipment, meeting international standards in the diagnosis and treatment of end endo noisy diseases. In particular, the hospital is a gathering place for a team of highly specialized, experienced and wholehearted doctors for patients.

Associate Professor. Dr. Hoang Dang Mech has more than 42 years working in medicine, has strengths in the fields of liver – kidney – immuno-pathology … Currently, the doctor is a Consultant in General Internal Medicine, Medical Examination and Internal Medicine Department, Share99 Ha Long International Health Hub.

For direct advice, please click hotline number or register online HERE. In addition, you can register for remote consultation HERE

SEE MORE:

  • Common thyroid diseases
  • Is thyroid cancer curable?
  • Thyroid auto-immune disease imprint

About: John Smith

b1ffdb54307529964874ff53a5c5de33?s=90&r=gI am the author of Share99.net. I had been working in Vinmec International General Hospital for over 10 years. I dedicate my passion on every post in this site.

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