Question

The condition showing swelling in face and hands and sluggishness due to hypothyroidism is called .......... (cretinism/ myxoedema).

Answer 1

Both cretinism and myxoedema occurs due to hypothyroidism i.e. low secretion of thyroid hormones. Cretinism occurs in children and myxoedema occurs in adults.

• Cretinism is the retarded mental and physical development which is associated with the hyposecretion (i.e. low secretion) of thyroid hormones. The hormones are passed from the mother to the child, so the child appears normal at first, but retarded mental and physical development becomes evident in the following few weeks or months. Symptoms are short limbs, protruding tongue, coarse dry skin and poor abdominal muscle tone.
• Myxoedema or Gull's disease is the deficiency of thyroid hormone in adulthood when the normal physical and mental development is complete. The metabolic rates get low and mental and physical processes become slow. Also the skin becomes coarse, hair lack lustre and become brittle and fall out, swellings in hands and face occur.

Hence, the given symptoms in the question are of myxoedema.

So, the correct answer is 'Myxoedema'.