Word parts
What it means
The most common cause of hypothyroidismhy-poh-THY-roy-diz-umA condition in which the thyroid gland makes too little thyroid hormone.hypo- below, underthyr/o thyroid gland-ism conditionFull entry in the US. Antibodies and white blood cells gradually damage the thyroid, which may swell (goiter) before it shrinks. It is much more common in women and often runs in families. It is named after Hakaru Hashimoto, the Japanese surgeon who described it in 1912.
For the nurse
Treatment is daily levothyroxine for life. Teach the client to take it at the same time each day on an empty stomach, 30 to 60 minutes before breakfast, apart from calcium and iron, and to keep follow-up blood tests.
At a glance
| Spanish | tiroiditis de Hashimoto |
|---|---|
| Also written | Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Hashimoto disease, Hashimoto's disease |
Related terms
-itis
A word ending that means inflammation.
hypothyroidism
A condition in which the thyroid gland makes too little thyroid hormone.
thyr/o
A word part that means the thyroid gland.
endocrine system
The glands that make hormones and release them into the blood to control body functions.