Mumps is a disease characterized by enlargement of the thyroid gland or thyroid (gland which has a shape like a butterfly and is located under the front of the base of the throat or neck).
Types of mumps
There are two types of goiter, which diffuse goiter and nodules. This grouping is based on the texture of the lump.
A lump in diffuse goiter feels smooth to the touch. While the goiter nodules, lumps feels uneven and lumpy. An uneven surface is caused by the presence of one or more small pimple that is solid or fluid-filled lumps.
The symptoms of mumps
Not all patients experience symptoms of goiter. If there is an indication that appears, formation of an abnormal lump in the neck is the main symptom of this condition.
Mumps bump size is different for each patient. Small bumps that usually do not cause any symptoms. However, the lump can affect breathing and cause difficulty in swallowing if the patient increases.
Other symptoms include swelling that generally accompanies throat tightness, voice changes (eg becomes hoarse), coughing, and difficulty breathing and swallowing.
If you feel the above symptoms, you should immediately see a doctor. Especially for patients with a bump that continues to grow and have difficulty breathing or swallowing.
Cause
Mumps is sometimes difficult to find the cause because it is very diverse. But there are some general factors that can trigger the disease. Among others are :
• Hyperthyroidism and hipotirodisme. Mumps can occur due to excessive performance of the thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) or decrease (hypothyroidism). Both will trigger swelling of the thyroid gland. Hyperthyroidism is generally caused by Graves' disease. While hypothyroidism can be triggered by a lack of iodine or Hashimoto's disease. Hashimoto's disease and Graves' disease is an autoimmune condition.
• iodine deficiency. The thyroid gland needs iodine to produce thyroid hormone. These substances can be found in fish, oysters, seaweed, cereals, wheat, and dairy cows. Because of the lack of iodine, the thyroid gland will be decreased performance and swelling.
• Smoke. Tobacco smoke contains compounds that thiocyanate can affect the body's ability to utilize iodine.
In addition to the above common causes, mumps may also occur as a result of the following things:
• The presence of nodules in the thyroid gland.
• The influence of thyroid cancer.
• Inflammation of the thyroid gland due to viral infections, bacteria, or certain drugs.
• Excessive levels of iodine in the body.
• Hormonal changes due to puberty, pregnancy, and menopause.
• Exposure to radiation, for example while undergoing radiotherapy.
• The effect of the drug lithium is generally used to treat depression and bipolar disorder.
Risk factors mumps
Mumps can affect anyone, but there are some factors that can increase a person's risk for developing this disease. Trigger factors include:
• Age. Mumps risk increases with age.
• Gender. Women have a higher risk than men.
• Heredity. Have family members who suffer from thyroid cancer or autoimmune disease increases the risk of thyroid disease.
• Drugs such as amiodarone and immunosuppressants.
• Pregnancy and menopause. The risk of thyroid disorders increased when women are pregnant or menopause, but the cause is not known with certainty.
Diagnosis
Generally swollen thyroid gland can be seen by a doctor through a simple physical examination. This examination allows the doctor to detect the size and texture of the bump. Type diffuse goiter or nodules can also be known through this investigation.
Patients will also be asked to undergo thyroid function evaluation to determine the cause behind the swelling of the gland. This examination is done through a blood test to measure levels of the hormone T3, T4, and TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone or thyroid stimulating hormone). TSH is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland located in the brain.
High thyroid hormone levels indicate hyperthyroidism. While low levels of thyroid hormone and TSH are high indicates that patients experienced hypothyroidism.
There are several other tests are done to provide more detailed information regarding the patient's condition, the thyroid scan, ultrasound, and biopsy.
Thyroid scanning process involves a radioactive isotope to check the size and type of thyroid lump. Therefore, this test should be avoided by pregnant women.
Ultrasound examination is used to confirm the size and type of the lump and the presence of nodules that may not be found through physical examination. While the biopsy is done through fine needle aspiration is recommended in order to determine the type of cells that exist in the bumps.
Treatment
Mumps can be handled in several ways. The determination of this step depends on several factors, namely the size of lumps, symptoms are felt, as well as the reasons for goiter.
Bumps are small and do not cause symptoms generally do not directly addressed. Your doctor will monitor the progress of your condition before making a follow-up because of the mumps you may be able to recover without the need for treatment.
If the lump continued to grow to interfere with the patient's health condition, there are several treatment steps that can be taken. Methods of treatment that will be recommended by a doctor include:
• hormone replacement therapy
This step is done to handle hipotirodisme to replace the thyroid hormone and generally must be followed for life. Examples of the drug is levothyroxine. But these drugs also can trigger side effects like nausea, muscle cramps, as well as rapid heartbeat or irregular.
• lowering drugs thyroid hormones
Thionamide will lower thyroid hormone levels by inhibiting its production processes. The drugs used to treat hyperthyroidism. The side effects include nausea, joint pain, mild rash, and decreased white blood cell count suddenly.
• Radioactive iodine therapy
This therapy also includes treatment for hyperthyroidism. Radioactive iodine is consumed will destroy thyroid cells. This treatment method has been shown to shrink the size of the lump, but also can lead to hypothyroidism.
Step operation
Bump that continues to grow to interfere with breathing and cause difficulty in swallowing patients are generally treated with surgery. This step will be carried out by the procedure removal of part or all of the thyroid gland or thyroidectomy. Research shows that approximately 15 percent of patients with goiter, which in turn require this treatment step.
This procedure is also recommended for patients suspected of having thyroid lumps that contain cancer cells. It is estimated that approximately five percent of mumps potentially indicative of thyroid cancer.
Each operation must have a risk, including thyroidectomy. Although the possibility is small, patients who undergo this procedure might experience complications of damage to the nerves and parathyroid glands.
Examples of nerve damage that may occur is a change of voice and respiratory problems. These complications can be temporary or permanent. While damage to the parathyroid gland will affect the regulation of calcium levels in the blood and bone.
