A sudden inflammation of the thyroid gland which usually follows an infection and then subsides. Painful enlargement of the thyroid gland may persist for weeks or months.
Risk factors are recent viral infection, being female, and young or middle aged.
The incidence is 1 out of 10,000 people. Other causes may not be preventable. This disease may also alter the results of an antithyroid microsomal antibody test. The purpose of treatment is to reduce pain and inflammation and to treat any hyperthyroidism , if present. Analgesics and anti-inflammatory medications may be needed for several weeks.