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Pain in the thyroid gland during swallowing
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Despite the small size, the thyroid gland is fairly considered one of the most important "workers" of the endocrine system. If it is healthy, then we do not take in the alertness of the mind, the ease of movement, the positive mood and even the harmony of the figure. About that it is unhealthy, with a high degree of reliability can only tell the analysis of the level of hormones in the blood, ultrasound of the thyroid gland, radiography with the use of radioactive iodine, in some cases prescribe a biopsy. But in time to worry about the condition of this body and seek the advice of a doctor you need yourself. Especially if you are concerned about the pain in the thyroid gland when swallowing.
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Diseases of the thyroid gland and their treatment
Thyroiditis is a term that denotes several thyroid pathologies of various pathogenesis and etiology.
Acute thyroiditis develops with such diseases as coccal infection, osteomyelitis, sepsis and others. Often, only one lobe of the gland is affected. Clinical picture of acute thyroiditis: pain in the thyroid gland, which appears first when swallowing, and then - constantly. Pain in the thyroid gland can be irradiated in the ear, back of the neck, lower jaw, rarely in the shoulder. Among the most common symptoms - chills and tachycardia, body temperature rises to 39-40 °. Acute and especially purulent inflammation of the thyroid gland is of a zobno-altered nature (strumit) is more difficult - due to the fact that excessive amounts of thyroid hormones are released into the blood that are released from the destroyed follicles of the thyroid gland, thyrotoxicosis develops. The disease can take several days, or several weeks. If the inflammation in the thyroid gland does not decrease, there is a possibility of forming an abscess, and then a fistula. The diagnosis is based on the characteristic clinical picture, the histological examination of the biopsy material, the establishment of the pathogen.
For the treatment of acute thyroiditis, antibiotics and sulfonamides are used. If an abscess or fistula has already formed, treatment can only be prompt. The prognosis with a timely diagnosis and correct treatment is quite favorable. Rarely, if there is extensive destruction of the thyroid parenchyma, hypothyroidism develops.
Subacute thyroiditis can develop in a healthy thyroid gland. There are assumptions that this ailment has a viral nature, since it usually begins after a previous virus infection - influenza, measles, mumps, etc., and antibodies to the corresponding viruses are found in the blood of patients during the disease. Clinical picture of subacute thyroiditis: sudden appearance of pain in the thyroid gland, which radiates into the ear, back of the neck, lower jaw and posterior part of the neck. Sometimes there is pain in the thyroid gland when swallowing and turning the head. There is general deterioration in the condition, increased body temperature, an increase in thyroid gland (foci or diffusely, often at first the lesion affects only one lobe), its densification and severe pain upon palpation. The diagnosis is made on the basis of the clinical picture standard for this disease, the results of laboratory tests and the history information (a viral illness, transferred for 6-8 weeks before the onset of the disease). An important sign is the patient's response to glucocorticoids, whose appointment for 24-72 hours leads to an improvement in the condition of the patient.
Treatment in simple cases involves the appointment of drugs such as salicylates, as well as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In cases of moderate severity and severe, hormone therapy is used (prednisolone and other drugs). The forecast is quite favorable.
Fibrous invasive thyroiditis is a disease of an incompletely clear nature, in which the thyroid gland replaces the parenchyma of fibrotic tissue. There is an increase and consolidation of the thyroid gland. If the process is clearly expressed, it surrounds the trachea in the form of a ring. Fibrous tissue, replacing the parenchyma of the thyroid gland, can spread beyond its limits, resulting in the defeat of neighboring muscles, nerves, vessels. As a result, the trachea moves and contracts, the timbre of the voice changes. If recurrent laryngeal nerves are involved in the pathological process, the possibility of paresis or paralysis of the larynx is not ruled out. Basically, patients complain about a feeling of tightness of the neck, shortness of breath and swallowing. Skin over the thyroid gland unchanged. Painful sensations are absent.
Treatment is an operation.
The thyroid gland is a tumor disease of the thyroid, which leads to the appearance of nodal neoplasms (nodular goiter) on it and an increase in the gland itself. The reason for goitre of the thyroid gland is the lack of iodine in the body, weak immunity and contamination of the environment in which a person lives.
Symptoms of goitre in the beginning of the disease are usually poorly expressed. When the nodes only begin to form, a person feels discomfort in the chest and a feeling of tightness in the neck. The appearance of a tumor in the thyroid gland provokes a malfunction of the nervous system. He begins excessive sweating, irritability and insomnia.
In addition, the accompanying symptoms of goitre thyroid - rapid heart rate (tachycardia), tremor of hands, a sharp cooling of the limbs, a strong sweating of the palms. If the disease progresses, the metabolism is broken, which leads to a sudden increase in weight or, occasionally, to a decrease in body weight. Also, against the background of goiter thyroid can develop a disease as a whole (pop-eyed).
The manifestation of symptoms also depends on the location of the goiter. If the struma on the throat is large, hoarseness, discomfort in the throat (sensation of compression or foreign body) or pain in the thyroid gland when swallowing. If the goiter develops in the vaginal area, the bronchi contract, the pressure exerted by the goiter on the esophagus is felt.
Treatment of goiter depends on its etiology. If there are nodes in it, they are assigned to delete them. Depending on the cause of the appearance of goiter, the appropriate course of treatment is prescribed.
In parallel with the treatment of medicines, patients must adhere to a certain diet, which is prescribed by the doctor. Products must necessarily contain a large amount of iodine (seafood, sea kale and so on). The patient should monitor the functioning of the intestine, avoid flour, sharp and fatty foods, as well as exclude from his diet coffee, preservatives and spirits.