When hyperthyroidism is not well controlled and the patient is affected by some stress factors, the condition of hyperthyroidism worsens in a short period of time, and a situation that endangers the patient’s health and life occurs, is called thyroid crisis or simply called hyperthyroid crisis.
Hyperthyroidism crisis is a serious and sudden aggravation of hyperthyroidism due to stress factors when the condition of hyperthyroidism is not under effective control. It is a special, emergency situation that seriously jeopardizes the life and health of the patient with hyperthyroidism and is medically called a hyperthyroid crisis, or thyroid crisis. This disease is not common, but the morbidity and mortality rate is very high, hyperthyroidism crisis is one of the common acute critical illnesses in endocrinology.
The main symptoms of hyperthyroid crisis are high fever, profuse sweating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sinus tachycardia, arrhythmia, and some patients may have psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety and irritability. Once the diagnosis of hyperthyroid crisis is made the doctor will take an aggressive approach to resuscitation, using high doses of antithyroid medication, along with iodine preparations and etiologic treatment according to the trigger.
Hyperthyroidism crisis has a high mortality rate, therefore, hyperthyroidism crisis should be prevented in time or at an early stage, and requires that hyperthyroidism be correctly diagnosed and correctly controlled as early as possible. It is also important to prevent various so-called triggers, such as acute infection, trauma or irritation.
Patients with hyperthyroidism should consult an endocrinologist for standardized treatment under the guidance of a physician to prevent the emergence of hyperthyroidism crisis. Hyperthyroidism crisis is an endocrine emergency, and patients with hyperthyroidism crisis must be seen in the emergency department or endocrinology department as soon as possible to avoid adverse consequences.