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Cretinism

Cretinism. By: Ashley Peters. Description. Form of hypothyroidism Lack of thyroid gland activity Causes very serious slowing in physical and mental development. Usually shows up in infants and children. Cause. Caused by a deficiency of thyroid hormone at birth and during infancy.

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Cretinism

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  1. Cretinism By: Ashley Peters

  2. Description • Form of hypothyroidism • Lack of thyroid gland activity • Causes very serious slowing in physical and mental development. • Usually shows up in infants and children.

  3. Cause • Caused by a deficiency of thyroid hormone at birth and during infancy. • As a result of abnormal development of the thyroid gland. • Can also be caused by a lack of iodine in the patient’s diet, or if the thyroid is diseased or removed because of a disease.

  4. Signs/Symptoms • Floppy infant • Thick, protruding tongue • Poor feeding • Frequent choking • Constipation • Dull appearing facial features • Dry, brittle hair and low hairline • Short, thick neck • Short Stature • Short extremities

  5. Diagnostic Procedures • Diagnosis is confirmed by review of symptoms along with thyroid hormone blood tests. • Based almost exclusively on checking the thyroid hormone level in the blood.

  6. Treatment • Vitally important that the condition is caught at the very early stages of the child’s birth. • If the condition is caught early enough then the effects that have taken place have a chance of being reversed. • Replacement Therapy • Blood levels are closely monitored after replacement therapy.

  7. Prognosis • Very early diagnosis can result in a good outcome. • Newborns diagnosed within the first month typically develop normal intelligence. • Untreated Cretinism can develop in severe mental retardation and irreversible stunting of physical growth.

  8. Prevention • Can be prevented by iodine supplementation before conception, and iodine supplementation during the 2nd trimester of pregnancy.

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