MYXOEDEMA

Categories: Diseases of The Blood And Ductless Galnds

This is a constitutional disease due to atrophy (wasting away)
of the thyroid gland and characterized by swollen condition of the tissue

under the skin, wasting of the thyroid and mental failures. Three forms

exist, myxoedema proper, cretinism and operative myxoedcma.



Causes of Cretinism. This may exist at birth (congenital) or it may

develop at puberty, and is due to the absence or loss of function of the

thyro d gland. Sporadic (here and there) cretinism may follow an acute

infectious disease or it may be congenital. Myxoedema may be hereditary

and is most common in women.



Symptoms, (a) Cretinism. Mental and bodily development is slow. There is

extraordinary disproportion between the different parts of the body. The

condition is sometimes not recognized until the child is six or seven

years old, then the slow development is noticed. The tongue looks large

and hangs out of the mouth. The hair may be thin, the skin very dry.

Usually by the end of the first year and during the second year the signs

of the cretinism become very marked and should be recognized. The face

looks large, looks bloated, the eyelids are puffy and swollen, the nose is

flat and depressed and thick. Teething is late, and the teeth that do

appear decay. The fontanelles are open. The abdomen is swollen, the legs

are short and thick, the hands and feet are not developed and look pudgy.

The face is pale and has a waxy, sallow tint. The muscles are weak and the

child cannot support itself. Above the collar bone there are pads of fat.

The child does not develop mentally and there may be one of the grades of

idiocy and imbecility (feeble-minded).



[BLOOD AND DUCTLESS GLANDS 261]



(b) Myxoedema, proper. The skin is infiltrated, causing loss of the lines

of the facial expression, skin is dry and harsh, much thickened,

especially in the region above the collar bone. The face is broad, with

coarse features, the nose is broad and thick, the mouth is large, lips

thick, hair scanty and coarse, slowness of motion and thought, weak

memory, irritability, headache, suspiciousness, followed sometimes by

hallucinations, delusion and dementia (insane). The disease may progress

for ten or fifteen years. Death may occur early.



Operative type. This rarely develops except the thyroid glands have been

entirely removed and then only if no extra glands are present.



Symptoms. Are the same as that of cretinism.



Treatment. An even, warm climate. Thyroid extract, to be given by a

physician, is the remedy. After the recovery occasional small doses still

may be necessary for some, or in cretinism for life.