Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Acute infectious thyroiditis is a very rare thyroid gland infection. This type of infection is painful, associated with a fever, and progresses rapidly. It can affect children and adults. Acute infectious thyroiditis can often be treated with antibiotics and a procedure that drains the fluid and pus.
This article will discuss the symptoms, possible complications, and causes of acute infectious thyroiditis. It also covers diagnosis and treatment options.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
Acute Infectious Thyroiditis Symptoms
Symptoms may include:
You may also develop symptoms ofhypothyroidism(low thyroid hormone function) orhyperthyroidism(excess thyroid hormone function), although your thyroid function is likely to remain stable during a bout of acute infectious thyroiditis.
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Complications
Acute infectious thyroiditis can produce a number of complications, the most common of which is anabscess—an encapsulated (closed-off) infection that requires immediate treatment, including with antibiotics and surgical drainage. A thyroid abscess typically presents with symptoms such as fever, neck pain, and a painful lump.
Other potential complications can include the following:
What Causes Acute Infectious Thyroiditis?
Acute infectious thyroiditis is rare because the thyroid gland is inherently better protected from infection than most other regions of the body. There are some risk factors that can increase your chances of developing an acute thyroid infection.
Risk factors include the following:
If your healthcare provider suspects that you have acute infectious thyroiditis, you will need a medical evaluation to confirm the diagnosis and to identify any risk factors. Your healthcare provider will examine your neck and look for signs of infection elsewhere in the body.
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Physical Examination
The most common signs of acute infectious thyroiditis are a fever and neck tenderness.
Diagnostic Imaging Tests
Your healthcare provider may order one or more imaging tests to visualize the structures in your neck. Diagnostic examinations may include a neck ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or a thyroid uptake scan.
Blood Tests
A blood culture may also be helpful in identifying bacteria or another microorganism that’s causing your infection. Your healthcare provider may also run other blood tests to identify whether you have an undiagnosed problem with your immune system.
Fine Needle Aspiration
Sometimes, an aspiration test can help identify whether thyroiditis issuppurative(contains pus) ornon-suppurative. Suppurative infectious thyroiditis is usually more severe than non-suppurative thyroiditis.
The sample will be analyzed using a culture, which is a material that allows infectious organisms to grow so that they can be identified. The culture results can help your healthcare provider choose the appropriate antibiotic and/or anti-fungal medication for treatment.
How Is Acute Infectious Thyroiditis Treated?
The treatment of acute thyroiditis is focused on eliminating the infection and reducing symptoms while the infection resolves. Several treatments can be used, and, if you or your child has acute infectious thyroiditis, your healthcare providers will initiate treatment quickly.
The usual treatment for acute infectious thyroiditis is a combination of incision and drainage coupled with antibiotics.
In addition to treatment for your infection, you may also need medication to lower your fever and/or treatment for pain. If you are unable to eat, you may need IV fluids until you can resume eating.
Antibiotics
Oral antibioticscan be used for the treatment of acute bacterial infectious thyroiditis. Some of the antibiotic medications that are commonly used for this type of infection includepenicillin, clindamycin, or a combination of macrolide and metronidazole.
If your healthcare provider is concerned that you could have anantibiotic-resistant infection, another antibiotic may be selected. Antibiotic-resistant infections are bacteria that do not respond to standard antibiotics, often called “superbugs,” and they require treatment with antibiotics that are stronger and/or more specifically directed.
You may need treatment with anintravenous (IV) antibioticif your healthcare provider is concerned that your infection is progressing rapidly, you can’t swallow oral medication, or you are vomiting so much that you can’t absorb oral medication.
Procedures
Percutaneous drainageis a procedure that your healthcare provider may use to remove the infectious fluid with a needle. You may have percutaneous drainage at the same time as your FNA. If you have this procedure, you will probably also receive antibiotic treatment.
Infrequently,surgical drainageof an infection or an abscess is required if your infection does not improve with percutaneous drainage and antibiotic therapy.
Rarely, surgical removal of part of the thyroid gland may be needed. In some cases, removal of half the thyroid gland, known as ahemithyroidectomy, may provide more effective treatment.
Summary
Infection of the thyroid gland is rare. The most common symptoms of acute infectious thyroiditis are a fever and neck tenderness. Your healthcare provider can diagnose the condition with a combination of physical examination, imaging and blood tests, and fine needle aspiration.
If you are diagnosed with this type of infection, you can anticipate rapid treatment and a quick recovery. Thyroid infections generally respond well to treatment, although there is a risk of recurrence if there is an associated fistula or if you have other risk factors.
9 Sources
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