Subacute Nonsuppurative Thyroiditis

Seeking care when pain appears in the front of the neck, next to the area of the thyroid gland, helps to identify subacute nonsuppurative thyroiditis, a temporary inflammation of the thyroid that usually follows a respiratory tract infection.

What it is: It is an inflammation that is not due to pus-forming bacteria, but to a transient process that alters the functioning of the gland for a time.

Frequent symptoms:

• Pain in the neck that can radiate toward the ear or the jaw
• General malaise and, sometimes, fever
• Temporary changes in thyroid activity

Who treats it? The endocrinologist evaluates the functioning of the thyroid, while the internist assesses the picture comprehensively. Faced with persistent pain in that region, it is advisable to put it in the hands of one of these professionals.