Cretinism or Congenital hypothyroidism, generally, is a preventable disease. For the pregnant women who have been having treatments for their thyroid gland problems, they must be monitored closely.
Cretinism Pathophysiology. At 4-10 weeks of gestation, the thyroid gland is formed as two-lobed organ located in the neck area which arises from the fourth branchial pouches. By 10-11 weeks of gestation, thyroid hormone is produced by the thyroid gland.
Hereditary in origin A small percentage of cretinism patients have inherited anomalous genes that cause the thyroid gland to produce less thyroid hormone. This happens though there is no detected abnormality in the size and shape of the thyroid gland. [3]
Prevalence of Cretinism. The population of the patients that have severe thyroid function deficiency is 1 in 4000 newborn infants, while other cases have mild or partial degrees. In countries such as North America, Japan, Australia, and Europe, cretinism occurs in 1 in 3000 to 4000 newborns.
of total blood volume, your body will have a traumatic reaction. Your blood pressure will drop down even further, and your heart rate will further increase. You may show signs of obvious confusion or disorientation. Your breathing will be more rapid and shallow.
How much blood loss can occur before you need a transfusion to recover? The average hemoglobin level is between 13.5 to 17.5 grams per deciliter for men and 12 to 15.5 grams per deciliter for women. Most doctors won’t consider a transfusion until the hemoglobin levels in your blood reach 7 or 8 grams per deciliter.
Childbirth. The average person loses 500 milliliters of blood during vaginal childbirth. That’s just half a quart. Those who have a cesarean delivery typically lose 1000 milliliters. You may lose more if complications arise, but your doctor and delivery team can usually manage the bleeding.
of total blood volume. This amount of loss increases your heart and respiratory rates. Your urine output and blood pressure will be decreased. You may feel anxious or uneasy. Your body starts to compensate for blood loss by constricting the blood vessels in your limbs and extremities.
Your heart will stop pumping, other organs will shut down, and you’ll likely be in a coma. Death is likely if aggressive life-saving measures haven’t been taken. Your body can compensate for a good deal of blood loss. However, at a certain point, it shuts down unnecessary components in order to protect your heart.
A bleeding hemorrhoid. Bright red blood on toilet paper or in underwear may look alarming, but it’s rarely serious. Most people lose small amounts of blood with a bleeding hemorrhoid. This level of blood loss isn’ t typically a cause for concern.
Surgery. Doctors and surgical staff work diligently to lower blood loss during a surgery. However, some surgeries produce major blood loss, or it occurs as a complication of the procedure. Your doctor can give you an idea of how much you might lose during your surgery and what can be done if you lose more than expected.
Cretinism is a medical condition present at birth wherein there is a decreased or absent thyroid function and thyroid hormone production [1]. When untreated, this could lead to severely stunted physical and mental growth of the newborn [2]. This is also known as Congenital Hypothyroidism [3].
Most cases of cretinism have no known cause. On the other hand, for the cases with determined causes, they are mostly caused by genetic mutations. These involve anomalies in the production of enzymes that are needed for the thyroid hormone synthesis [1]. Here are some underlying causes of cretinism:
Here are some underlying causes of cretinism: 1. Hereditary in origin. A small percentage of cretinism patients have inherited anomalous genes that cause the thyroid gland to produce less thyroid hormone. This happens though there is no detected abnormality in the size and shape of the thyroid gland.
Cretinism Treatment. The main goal of the treatment is early detection and early initiation of treatment [5]. When the diagnosis is made early, within the first two weeks of life, the effects of this condition to the brain and nervous system can be prevented by the thyroid hormone replacement.
According to the definition of cretinism, it is a condition which may be present before or after birth. For children aged 2 years or older who developed it, it is not referred to as cretinism but as primary hypothyroidism. [7]
In countries such as North America, Japan, Australia, and Europe, cretinism occurs in 1 in 3000 to 4000 newborns.
Cretinism or Congenital hypothyroidism, generally, is a preventable disease. For the pregnant women who have been having treatments for their thyroid gland problems, they must be monitored closely. Also, sufficient amount of nutritional iodine should be consumed by pregnant mothers.