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The medical definition of cretinism is untreated congenital hypothyroidism, with or without a goiter. Iodine deficiency is still a major cause of endemic cretinism, but in Canada this is no longer true. An interesting historical reference to goiter in 1832 in the Ontario Native population stated (2):
- The History and Character of Goitre in Canada
Full text. Full text is available as a scanned copy of the...
- The History and Character of Goitre in Canada
- What Is Cretinism
- The Difference Between Congenital Athyrotic Hypothyroidism and cretinism.
- Prevalence of cretinism.
- Etiology and Pathogenesis of Cretinism
- Clinical Features of Endemic Cretinism
- Differential Diagnosis of Cretinism
- Prognosis of Cretinism
- Prevention and Treatment
The term cretin describes mentally deficient subjects born in an endemic goiterarea, which exhibit some of the following characteristics which are not readily explained by other causes: 1. Irreversible neuro-muscular disorders. 2. Irreversible abnormalities in hearing and speech, which sometimes lead to deaf mutism. 3. Impairment of somatic develop...
Congenital athyrotic hypothyroidism and endemic cretinism are difficult to differentiate. Although there is an overlap of many symptoms, differentiation is generally possible on clinical grounds. While the endemic cretin is born as such, with irreversible damage to the hearing organ and the brain; mental and physical development is only slightly re...
Endemic cretinism occurs only in areas where goiter is severely endemic. It is never observed near the sea coast. Historically, cretinism has been familiar for centuries in the Alps (Savoy, Piedmont, Steiermark, Salzburg area), in the Pyrenees, the Carpathian mountains, the Caucasus, southern Sweden, Hungaria, and Yugoslavia. During the previous ce...
Endemic cretinism only occurs in areas of severe iodine deficiency. The urinary iodine excretion (roughly equal to the iodine intake) is under 15 mcg per day in most areas where cretins are born. As in the case of endemic goiter, goitrogenic compounds of food and drinking water may also play some part. Mothers of endemic cretins always have a goite...
The severity of cretinism is best graded by the degree of mental retardation. In mild cases, the patients are able to talk, read and write and can perform simple tasks. Mild cretins have married and have had children. Moderate cases are capable of communicating with other people with the aid of gestures and a few words. They can only perform very s...
In classic adult cases the Diagnosis is easy, but in the newborn it can be quite difficult. Children with endemic cretinism have to be differentiated from congenitally hypothyroid children with thyroid aplasia.
With good care, life expectancy is virtually normal. Thyroid carcinoma is more frequent in cretins, but the cretinous state is not associated with an increased risk of any other potentially lethal diseases.
Prevention is achieved by the same means as that of endemic goiter. Endemic cretinism is eradicated much more rapidly and easily than endemic goiter. Worldwide, populations with a high prevalence of cretinism have seen a dramatic decline in its incidence since the introduction of iodinated salt. Treatment of cretins is challenging. Much of the cent...
It is one cause of underactive thyroid function at birth, called congenital hypothyroidism, historically referred to as cretinism (obsolete). [2][3] If untreated, it results in impairment of both physical and mental development.
According to Means (2), a cretin is one who “suffers from athyreosis from intra-uterine life or early in infancy at best.” This definition has the advantage that the exact time of thyreoprivia in development is not implied, nor is a functioning thyroid gland at a later date excluded.
- John B. Stanbury, Andries Querido
- 1956
Apr 4, 2024 · Comprehensive guide on Cretinism, a disease caused by hypothyroidism. Understand the causes, symptoms, types, diagnosis, and treatment of Cretinism. Also, learn about the difference between Cretinism and Dwarfism.
- The main causes of cretinism are dietary iodine deficiency, failure of responding to the iodine of thyroid hormone supplement, maternal hypothyroid...
- The main symptoms of cretinism are stunted growth and mental retardation, short stature (dwarfism), mild neurological impairment with reduced muscl...
- The three main characteristic features of neurologic endemic hypothyroidism in its absolutely developed type are very severe moronity alongside squ...
- Goitre is often the results of thyroid tumours, that are sometimes benign, however generally malignant. Most thyroid tumours occur as separate nodu...
Jan 1, 2011 · The very definition of cretinism establishes that we are dealing first and foremost with the thyroid gland. We will expand on its functional behaviour in cretinism in the section on pathological physiology; here we shall restrict ourselves to presenting the clinical findings. Histology is relegated to a special section.
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Feb 24, 2022 · Cretinism. (Science: endocrinology, paediatrics) Stunted body growth and mental development appearing in the first years of life resulting the inappropriate development of the thymus gland or inadequate maternal intake of iodine during gestation. Last updated on February 24th, 2022.
