Congenital hypothyroidism due to iodine deficiency
| Congenital iodine deficiency syndrome | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Endemic cretinism |
| A man with congenital iodine deficiency syndrome | |
| Specialty | Endocrinology |
| Symptoms | Goiter, mental impairment, poor growth, infertility, hair loss |
Congenital hypothyroidism due to iodine deficiency (ICD-11), or congenital iodine deficiency syndrome (CIDS, ICD-10), is a medical condition present at birth marked by impaired physical and mental development, due to insufficient thyroid hormone production (hypothyroidism) caused by insufficient dietary iodine during pregnancy. Iodine deficiency is one cause of underactive thyroid function at birth, called congenital hypothyroidism. Consistent with the broader category of congenital hypothyroidism, this subtype also manifests as what was historically termed cretinism if left untreated.
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.
In developed countries, thyroid function testing of newborns has assured that in those affected, treatment with the synthetic thyroid hormone thyroxine is begun promptly. This screening and treatment successfully cures the disease.