Acute infectious thyroiditis is a very rare thyroid gland infection.
This jot down of infection is painful, associated with a fever, and progresses rapidly.
It can affect children and adults.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
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.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
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?
Infectious thyroiditis is usually brought on by a bacterial infection.
Most often, the culprit is a Gram-positive bacterium such asS.
There are some risk factors that can increase your chances of developing an acute thyroid infection.
Your healthcare provider will examine your neck and look for signs of infection elsewhere in the body.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Physical Examination
The most common signs of acute infectious thyroiditis are a fever and neck tenderness.
Anatomical variations, like a fistula, can be identified as well.
However, imaging might not distinguish infectious thyroiditis from subacute (noninfectious) thyroiditis.
Blood Tests
You may need blood tests.
A blood culture may also be helpful in identifying bacteria or another microorganism that’s causing your infection.
Suppurative infectious thyroiditis is usually more severe than non-suppurative thyroiditis.
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.
The usual treatment for acute infectious thyroiditis is a combination of incision and drainage coupled with antibiotics.
Antibiotics
Oral antibioticscan be used for the treatment of acute bacterial infectious thyroiditis.
If your healthcare provider is concerned that you could have anantibiotic-resistant infection, another antibiotic may be selected.
You may have percutaneous drainage at the same time as your FNA.
If you have this procedure, you will probably also receive antibiotic treatment.
Rarely, surgical removal of part of the thyroid gland may be needed.
Summary
Infection of the thyroid gland is rare.
The most common symptoms of acute infectious thyroiditis are a fever and neck tenderness.
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Endotext.Acute and subacute, and Riedels thyroiditis.
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