Thyroid Hormone Toxicity Clinical Presentation
- Author: Lisandro Irizarry, MD, MPH, FAAEM; Chief Editor: Asim Tarabar, MD more...
History
Access to thyroid hormone, especially in pediatric or unknown ingestions, is important.
Physical
Focus the physical examination on findings consistent with symptoms of increased adrenergic activity and on the following signs:
- Acute
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Increased appetite
- Insomnia
- Anxiousness
- Agitation
- Tremor
- Seizures
- Weakness
- Diaphoresis
- Tachycardia
- Palpitations
- Hypertension or hypotension
- Hyperpyrexia/heat intolerance
- Confusion
- Psychosis
- Hypoglycemia
- Skin flushing
- Transient systolic ejection murmurs
- Pulmonary edema
- Adrenal insufficiency
- Chronic
- Weight loss
- Menstrual irregularities
- Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)
- High-output left ventricular failure
- Hypotension
- Hemiparesis
- Delirium
- Coma
- Pneumonia
- Sepsis
- Hyperthermia
- Acute renal failure
- Myopathy
- Palmar and plantar desquamation
- Premature epiphyseal closure in children
- Craniosynostosis (infants)
Causes
Long-term abuse of thyroid supplements has been reported in obese patients as a method of weight control.
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