What is the Difference Between Cretinism and Myxedema

The key difference between cretinism and myxedema is that cretinism is a medical condition characterized by dwarfism and mental retardation due to the deficiency of thyroid hormone, while myxedema is a severe hypothyroidism condition that leads to decreased mental status, hypothermia, and other symptoms related to decreased function in multiple organs.

The thyroid gland is an endocrine gland in the neck. It is a very important gland that regulates very important metabolic activities. It produces a hormone called thyroxine. Cretinism and myxedema are two medical conditions due to defects in thyroid function. Moreover, they are also characterized as two types of hypothyroidism, a condition occurring due to the inability of your thyroid glands to produce certain crucial hormones. Both these conditions create morphological defects in humans. Moreover, these conditions can produce life-threatening complications if they are not treated properly.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Cretinism 
3. What is Myxedema
4. Similarities – Cretinism and Myxedema
5. Cretinism vs Myxedema in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Cretinism vs Myxedema

What is Cretinism?

Cretinism is a medical condition resulting from a deficiency of thyroid hormone and is characterized by dwarfism and mental retardation. There are two main reasons for cretinism: the failure of the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones (congenital) and iodine deficiency in the diet. The symptoms of cretinism include lack of weight gain, stunted growth, lethargy, poor feeding, fatigue, thickened facial features, abnormal bone growth, mental retardation, very little crying, constipation, yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, floppiness, excessive sleep, low muscle tones, hoarse voice, unusually large tongue, swelling near the navel, dry skin, pale skin, swelling of the skin and swelling in the neck from an enlarged thyroid gland (goiter), thickened skin, enlarged tongue, or a protruding abdomen.

Cretinism can be diagnosed through physical examination, radioactive iodine test, and postnatal blood spot test (Guthrie’s test). Furthermore, the treatment of cretinism involves an iodine-filled diet that helps prevent cretinism. It is an essential trace element that is necessary and required for the synthesis of thyroid hormones. In addition, iodine deficiency is the most common preventable cause of brain damage.

What is Myxedema?

Myxedema is a medical condition resulting from an underactive thyroid gland. In fact, it is a severe form of hypothyroidism. It is also referred to as adult hypothyroidism. The symptoms of myxedema include fatigue, lethargy, mental impairment, depression, cold intolerance, hoarseness, dry skin, and weight gain. Myxedema occurs due to severe, poorly managed, or untreated hypothyroidism. The causes of hypothyroidism are surgical removal of the thyroid glands, medications that affect the hormone system, radiation therapy to treat cancer, other medication like lithium, beta blockers and anaesthesia, autoimmune conditions, iodine deficiency, pregnancy, and sudden illness or infection.

This condition can be diagnosed through physical examinations and blood tests (thyroid hormone test, electrolyte abnormalities, and elevated creatinine kinase). Furthermore, treatment options include administrating thyroid hormone replacement medication into a vein, antibiotics, steroid treatment, and breathing support to reduce the symptoms.

What are the Similarities Between Cretinism and Myxedema?

• Cretinism and myxedema are two medical conditions due to defects in thyroid function.
• Cretinism and myxedema are also characterized as two types of hypothyroidism.
• Both these conditions create morphological defects in humans.
• Both these conditions can be diagnosed through blood testing.
• Managing both these conditions is through enhancing the performance of thyroid function.

What is the Difference Between Cretinism and Myxedema?

Cretinism is a congenital disease occurring due to the absence or deficiency of thyroid hormone and iodine and is characterized by dwarfism and mental retardation, while myxedema is a medical condition that results from an underactive thyroid gland, causing decreased mental status, hypothermia, and other symptoms related to decreased function in multiple organs. Thus, this is the key difference between cretinism and myxedema. Furthermore, cretinism is referred to as neonatal hypothyroidism, while myxedema is referred to as adult hypothyroidism.

The below infographic presents the differences between cretinism and myxedema in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Cretinism vs Myxedema

Cretinism and myxedema are two types of hypothyroidism occurring due to defects in thyroid function. Cretinism is congenital hypothyroidism leading to stunted growth and mental retardation. Myxedema is severe hypothyroidism leading to decreased mental status, hypothermia, and decreased function in multiple organs. So, this is the key difference between cretinism and myxedema.

Reference:

1. “Cretinism.” An Overview | ScienceDirect Topics.
2. “Myxedema: Symptoms, Treatment & Coma.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Sir B. Bramwell, Sporadic cretinism. Wellcome L0013870” By Welcome Images Gallery (CC BY 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Myxedema standing” By Herbert L. Fred, MD and Hendrik A. van Dijk – (CC BY 2.5) via Commons Wikimedia