Congenital hypothyroidism historical perspective

Template:Cngenital hypothyroidism Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Historical Perspective

Cretinism is an old term for the state of mental and physical retardation resulting from untreated congenital hypothyroidism, usually due to iodine deficiency from birth because of low iodine levels in the soil and local food sources. The term, like so many other 19th century medical terms, acquired pejorative connotations as it became used in lay speech. It is now rarely used by physicians.