Cretinism

Fuentes Paul john a. MD/GENERAL SURGEON

What is cretinism

 Cretinism in the newborn may result from absence of or abnormal development of the
thyroid gland, destruction of the thyroid gland, failure of stimulation of the thyroid by the
pituitary, and/or by defective or abnormal synthesis of thyroid hormones.
 Cretinism is a condition of severely stunted physical and mental growth due to untreated
congenital deficiency of thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism)
 1 in 4000 newborn infants
 Twice as common in girls as in boys
There are 2 type of cretinism

 Neurological Cretinism
 Myxedematous Cretinism
 Endemic cretinism occurs in areas of severe iodine deficiency and is manifested by two major
clinical patterns, myxedematous and neurological. ... Myxedematous cretins were severely thyroid
hormone deficient, and as a result sexually immature, dwarfed, and had retarded skeletal maturity.
 Myxedematous cretinism is considered to result from iodine deficiency and hypothyroidism in the
fetus during late pregnancy or in the neonatal period, resulting in mental retardation, short stature,
goiter, and hypothyroidism
What are the symptoms and signs

 Foreshortened base of the skull

 -Low hair line
 -Short and wide face
 -Large, thick and protruding - tongue (Macroglossia)
 Delayed eruption of primary and permanent teeth
 Short and thickened long bones
 -Irregular and deformed epiphyses (in some cases
 Short stature , ugly face
 Disproportionately small body part’s
 Mentally retarded
 Sexual infantilism small gon
How can we treat it

 This Cretinism is confirmed by tests, hormone replacement therapy is used in the form of
oral thyroxine. The treatment should ideally be initiated within the first few weeks of life and
continued throughout life. The doses should be increased or reduced whenever deemed
as appropriate.
Is cretinism reversible

 Early diagnosis is imperative. Most of the effects of hypothyroidism are easily reversible. However,
critical development of the nervous system takes place in the first few months after birth. Thyroid
hormone deficiency may result in irreversible damage to the nervous system with marked mental
retardation.
Effects on human body

 Cretinism is a condition of severe physical and mental retardation due to iodine deficiency, and
specifically due to deficiency of thyroid hormones during early pregnancy.
How to prevent

 As endemic cretinism arises from a dietary iodine deficiency, iodine administration has
been established as a health policy in many countries. Screening of newborns can help
detect the disorder in the first trimester of pregnancy . Adequate dietary iodine intake by
pregnant mothers can also prevent Cretinism in infants.
 THERE’S A STORY BEHIND EVERY PERSON. THERE’S A REASON WHY THEY’RE THE WAY THEY
ARE. THINK ABOUT THAT BEFORE YOU JUDGE SOMEONE.