What is a thyroid crisis?

Thyroid crisis, also known as hyperthyroid crisis, is a group of syndromes characterized by acute exacerbation of thyrotoxicosis resulting in multisystem damage. Thyroid crisis usually occurs in untreated or inadequately treated patients with Graves’ disease, and most of them have certain triggers, such as infection, trauma, mental stress, surgery, pregnancy, etc.. Typical symptoms of thyroid crisis are high fever, sweating, irritability, facial flushing, tachycardia, vomiting, diarrhea, and in some patients, cardiac arrhythmia, pulmonary edema, congestive heart failure, jaundice, etc. Further aggravation of the condition may result in shock, delirium, coma, or even life-threatening. Patients with thyroid crisis should seek medical treatment in time to avoid delay.