In the Face of the Storm - The Terror Which is Thyroid Storm

There are very few anomalies of the thyroid that wish immediate medical concentration and one of them is the dreaded thyroid storm. It is a serious condition that could corollary in death in any hours without prompt medical attention.

What is It?

Potassium IOdide

This is a serious condition wherein there is an aggravation of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism. It is hyperthyroidism but in its most severe, life-threatening form. In the past, this condition usually follows a recent surgery but now, it is mostly due to poorly treated or untreated infections.

In the Face of the Storm - The Terror Which is Thyroid Storm

What sets this condition apart from other forms of hyperthyroidism is the extremely high body climatic characteristic of patients with this condition. These patients may reach temperatures of as high 105-106°F.

What Causes the Attack?

This sudden aggravation of hyperthyroidism, in the past, may corollary a recent surgery but this has largely been eliminated by the amelioration of contemporary preoperative procedures. This may happen in patients ready for thyroid surgery with potassium iodide alone. A few weeks prior to administering iodides, a hyperthyroid outpatient must first be given doses of propylthiouracil or methimazole until basal metabolic rate is within normal levels.

Another cause of this acute hyperthyroid strike is an infection that has been poorly treated or remains largely untreated. Lung infections, especially, may furnish an embellishment of thyrotoxicosis. Other causes contain noncompliance or stopping medications for hyperthyroidism, a high dose of thyroxine medicine for hypothyroid patients, medicine with radioactive iodine, pregnancy, and heart attacks and other heart strike emergencies.

What to Watch Out For

Most signs and symptoms of this sudden condition are exacerbated effects of hyperthyroidism. These contain rapid heart beat, chest pains, shortness of breath, anxiety and irritability, disorientation, increased sweating, infirmity and heart failure. The hallmark of this particular condition is an extremely increased body temperature. A outpatient may reach body temperatures of as high as 106°F in the middle of the attack.

Sometimes, the strike takes on an additional one turn wherein the outpatient may feel greatest weakness, emotional apathy and confusion. The high excitability and delirium of usual thyroid storm patients is not evident and fever may not even be rise as high. This is called apathetic storm.

Intervention

This particular state of hyperthyroidism takes on suddenly and a outpatient may not be able to help himself once it sets in. It is prominent that house members or anybody bring the outpatient to a hospital for immediate treatment. This condition constitutes a medical urgency and it is only straight through prompt recognition of the signs and aggressive medical medicine that mortality due to this particular disease has been decreased.

The outpatient is advised to rest and may necessitate mild sedation. Fluids and electrolytes may be substituted intravenously and vitamins and nutritional reserve may be needed. Antibiotics may also be given if an infection is found to be the cause of the episode.

Other definite therapy given to thyroid storm patients contain propanolol, antithyroid drugs such as propylthiouracil and methimazole, large doses of potassium iodide, and dexamethasone. Most of these drugs serve to lower the thyroid hormone in circulation and preclude further output and secretion of thyroid hormone.

In the Face of the Storm - The Terror Which is Thyroid Storm

Lasko Stand Fan Chillafrilla Dyson Fan New The Book Thief