de Quervain's thyroiditis
Last reviewed 01/2018
This is a distinctive form of self-limited thyroiditis noted for painful enlargement of the thyroid gland in association with fever and hyperthyroidism. It most commonly affects people in the second to fifth decade, with a female predominance of 3:1. The condition is widely believed to be triggered by a virus infection - mumps, influenza, Coxsackie, adenovirus or ECHO.
Characteristically, levels of T3 and T4 are increased but the uptake of radioactive iodine is low or absent.