Thyroid swelling – How can you detect it yourself?
Depending on its extent, the swelling of the thyroid gland can be so severe that it can even be seen in the mirror. If necessary, the organ can also be palpated as a soft, sometimes knotty structure on the right and left side of the larynx when the thyroid gland is enlarged. However, only a physician who is experienced in this examination can give an accurate assessment of whether a swollen thyroid gland is present.
However, the thyroid gland may also be enlarged without being visible or palpable from the outside. In such a case, an enlargement can be determined by an ultrasound examination. The diagnosis of the cause of a swollen thyroid gland is made by the doctor on the basis of various examinations.
During the medical consultation, he asks questions such as how long the swelling has existed, how quickly it has developed, or whether pain is present. He also asks about possible symptoms of a disturbed thyroid function or other thyroid diseases. The question whether a respiratory infection has recently occurred can also be important.
In addition, a specific examination of the organ is performed. The thyroid gland is palpated by the doctor by placing his fingers around the neck from behind. He also usually asks the patient to swallow. On the basis of the condition, size and displaceability, as well as the findings from the medical consultation, a suspected diagnosis can usually be made regarding the swelling.If necessary, further examinations are then performed, such as an ultrasound of the neck region. A blood test and determination of thyroid gland values can also be useful.
Treatment/Therapy
The treatment of a swollen thyroid gland depends on the cause. Depending on the diagnosis, the doctor will initiate appropriate therapy. If the thyroid gland swells due to an inadequate supply of iodine, tablets containing iodine are usually prescribed for daily use.
These often contain the iodine-containing thyroid hormones as an additional active ingredient, as scientific studies have shown that these combination preparations are more effective. For example, the preparation Thyronajod® can be used for this purpose. If an inflammation is the cause of the swollen thyroid gland, treatment with painkillers and cooling compresses is usually sufficient.
If bacteria are the cause of the inflammation, antibiotics are also used. If the thyroid gland is very enlarged or if breathing and swallowing are impaired by the swelling, drug therapy may no longer be sufficient. In such cases, the thyroid gland can be reduced in size by surgical removal or by the administration of radioactive substances as targeted radiation “from within” (radioiodine therapy).
In the case of Graves’ disease, the initial aim is to cure the thyroid gland with thyrostatic drugs to reduce hyperthyroidism. If this does not lead to success, surgery and radioiodine therapy are the alternatives. However, since swelling in the area of the thyroid gland is very often merely swollen lymph nodes due to an infection of the respiratory tract, no special therapy is usually required. Only if this swelling has not subsided even after two weeks, a medical examination should be performed to decide on further action.
