Cretinism - Definition, Causes
Mother and Child
Mental Retardation
Pot belly abdomen & Protruded Tongue
Effect of treatment
May 23, 2020
DecodedMedicine_dr.priya07
Cretinism is caused by extreme hypothyroidism during fetal life, infancy, or childhood.
This condition is characterized by failure of body growth and mental retardation.
LEARN TO REMEMBER;
STUDY THE CONCEPT BEHIND FACTS
What is the reason?
1. Congenital lack of a thyroid gland (congenital cretinism) OR
2. Failure of the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormone
because of a genetic defect of the gland,
or iodine lack in the diet (endemic cretinism)
or fetal hypopituitary hypothyroidism
3. Maternal antithyroid antibodies that cross the placenta
, How severe can endemic cretinism be?
The severity of endemic cretinism varies greatly, depending on the amount of iodine in
the diet, and whole populaces of an endemic geographic iodine-deficient soil area have
been known to have cretinoid tendencies.
Can a neonate with cretinism look normal?
A neonate without a thyroid gland may have normal appearance and function
because it was supplied with some (but usually not enough) thyroid hormone by
the mother while in utero.
T4 crosses the placenta, and unless the mother is hypothyroid, growth and
development are normal until birth.
A few weeks after birth, however, the neonate’s movements become sluggish and
both physical and mental growth begin to be greatly retarded.
What if the mother is also hypothyroid?
When the mother is hypothyroid as well, as in the case of iodine deficiency, the child
shows features of cretinism at birth. Also, the mental deficiency is more severe and less
responsive to treatment after birth.
Mother and Child
Mental Retardation
Pot belly abdomen & Protruded Tongue
Effect of treatment
May 23, 2020
DecodedMedicine_dr.priya07
Cretinism is caused by extreme hypothyroidism during fetal life, infancy, or childhood.
This condition is characterized by failure of body growth and mental retardation.
LEARN TO REMEMBER;
STUDY THE CONCEPT BEHIND FACTS
What is the reason?
1. Congenital lack of a thyroid gland (congenital cretinism) OR
2. Failure of the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormone
because of a genetic defect of the gland,
or iodine lack in the diet (endemic cretinism)
or fetal hypopituitary hypothyroidism
3. Maternal antithyroid antibodies that cross the placenta
, How severe can endemic cretinism be?
The severity of endemic cretinism varies greatly, depending on the amount of iodine in
the diet, and whole populaces of an endemic geographic iodine-deficient soil area have
been known to have cretinoid tendencies.
Can a neonate with cretinism look normal?
A neonate without a thyroid gland may have normal appearance and function
because it was supplied with some (but usually not enough) thyroid hormone by
the mother while in utero.
T4 crosses the placenta, and unless the mother is hypothyroid, growth and
development are normal until birth.
A few weeks after birth, however, the neonate’s movements become sluggish and
both physical and mental growth begin to be greatly retarded.
What if the mother is also hypothyroid?
When the mother is hypothyroid as well, as in the case of iodine deficiency, the child
shows features of cretinism at birth. Also, the mental deficiency is more severe and less
responsive to treatment after birth.
