Congenital iodine deficiency syndrome

"Cretinism" redirects here. For other uses, see Cretin.
Congenital iodine deficiency syndrome
Other namesEndemic Cretinism[1]
A man with congenital iodine deficiency syndrome
SpecialtyEndocrinology
SymptomsGoiter, mental impairment, poor growth, infertility, hair loss

Congenital iodine deficiency syndrome (CIDS), also called cretinism,[2] is a medical condition present at birth marked by impaired physical and mental development, due to insufficient thyroid hormone production (hypothyroidism) often caused by insufficient dietary iodine during pregnancy. It is one cause of underactive thyroid function at birth, called congenital hypothyroidism.[3] If untreated, it results in impairment of both physical and mental development. Symptoms may include: goiter, poor length growth in infants, reduced adult stature, thickened skin, hair loss, enlarged tongue, a protruding abdomen, delayed bone maturation and puberty in children, mental deterioration, neurological impairment, impeded ovulation, and infertility in adults.[4]

In developed countries, thyroid function testing of newborns has assured that in those affected, treatment with the thyroid hormone thyroxine is begun promptly. This screening and treatment successfully cures the disease.[5]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference icd.who.int was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Cretinism". merriam-webster.com. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 5 October 2019. a usually congenital condition marked by physical stunting and intellectual disability and caused by severe hypothyroidism
  3. ^ William C. Shiel. "Medical Definition of Cretinism". medicinenet.com. MedicineNet. Archived from the original on 11 September 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2019. Cretinism: Congenital hypothyroidism (underactivity of the thyroid gland at birth), which results in growth retardation, developmental delay, and other abnormal features.
  4. ^ "Congenital hypothyroidism: MedlinePlus Genetics". medlineplus.gov. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference endocrinopathies was invoked but never defined (see the help page).