Cretinism overview
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Cretinism Microchapters |
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Diagnosis |
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Treatment |
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Cretinism overview On the Web |
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Cretinism overview |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Cretinism is a condition of severely stunted physical and mental growth due to untreated congenital deficiency of thyroid hormones (hypothyroidism). The term cretin refers to a person so affected. Cretinism is an old name used for congenital hypothyroidism. It includes sporadic cretinism and endemic cretinism. Sporadic cretinism is caused by gene mutations, radiation, drugs and so on. Usual symptoms are neurological impairment, low metabolism conditions and infertility. Thyroid hormone replacement is the main treatment. Endemic cretinism results from a diet deficient in iodine. Iodine deficiency results in enlargement of the thyroid gland, physical development hypoevolutism and mental development impairment. As a public health problem, many countries have established the policy of iodine administration.