Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
- Images
Subacute thyroiditis involves swelling (inflammation) of the thyroid gland that usually follows an upper respiratory infection.
Alternative Names
De Quervain's thyroiditis; Subacute nonsuppurative thyroiditis; Giant cell thyroiditis; Subacute granulomatous thyroiditis
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Subacute thyroiditis is a rare condition. It is thought to be caused by a viral infection. The condition often occurs after a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract, such as
Subacute thyroiditis occurs most often in middle-aged women with recent symptoms of a viral respiratory tract infection.
Review Date: 04/19/2010
Reviewed By: Ari S. Eckman, MD, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Johns
Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by
VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA,
Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
