Does An Infection Cause Thyroid Issues?

Posted on Sat, 7 Nov 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 7 Nov 2015 Answered on

Tue, 1 Dec 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : Is it possible that an infection can completely throw your thyroid out of wack? I have had pushing on my throat, and irritation for 6 months. What tests would rule out everything? I have already had an ultrasound, and a biopsy on a 1cm complex nodule on my isthamus, to find it benign. I know that my TCH? is was 3.42 a few months ago. I feel like my throat is constantly inflamed with irritation and pushing.

Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Thyroiditis

Detailed Answer:
Good day,
Noted your concern.
Its is true that viral and other infections can affect thyroid glad and cause thyroiditis ( inflammation of gland). This can cause excess hormone being pushed out of gland causing hyperthyroidism. However, in long term few of such patients develop hypotyroidism due to destuction of gland. However, in most cases, the thyroid gland recovers from infection and inflammation completely and the function retutns to normal.
TSH of 3.42 is norml. You should also try to get a throat examination done by an ENT doctor. A nodule more than 1 cm need biospy and if that was normal, a repeat scan should be done after 6 months.
regards
Binu

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (13 hours later)

How do you diagnois thyroiditis? Is there a special test that needs to be performed?

Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (13 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Thyroiditis

Detailed Answer:
Thyroiditis cause pain in neck area. It may also cause palpitations, tremors in hands and weight loss if thyroid secretes excess hormone in response to thyroiditis. Mostly, ESR will be high and thyroid blood profile show Increased Free T4 and Low TSH. The confirmatory test is a nuclear scan ( Technitium thyroid scan)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (4 hours later)

Would thryroid problems feel like tightening in your throat? and pressure on your throat at the bottom of your neck? What type of thyroid problems would have this happen two to three times a day?

Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (21 hours later)

Brief Answer:
tightness in neck possible

Detailed Answer:
yes, it is possible. In thyroiditis, you may feel like a tightening or constricting feel around neck or even in upper back. But If you feel pressure in throat intermittently 2-3 times a day, it is unlikely to be due to thyroiditis. Please meet an ENT doctor to get your throat assessed.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar