|
"Thyroid diseases are commonly
encountered disorders in the community and are treatable", stated Dr. Najmul
Islam, Consultant Endocrinologist at Aga Khan University Hospital. He was giving
a presentation on "Thyroid Disorders" at the monthly public health awareness
programme, 'Signs, Symptoms and Care', on December 14, 2002.
Dr. Islam clarified that
thyroid disorders could be due to "too little" or "too much" hormone production
by a butterfly shaped gland situated just below the Adam's apple. It could also
present itself as an enlargement of a gland called the goiter. He then went
on to outline the salient features of hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) and
hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) as well as the detection and treatment
of these conditions.
Giving details regarding
the numerous causes leading to developing goitre, Dr. Islam highlighted one
particular root cause - iodine deficiency. He said that nearly 100 million people
the world over are not getting enough iodine in their diet, required by the
thyroid gland to produce balanced quantities of its hormone and hence suffer
from goiter. In addition to causing goitre and its abnormal thyroid function,
iodine deficiency is also responsible for a lower I.Q in young children. This
problem can be prevented by widespread use of iodised salt. Dr. Islam also noted
that thyroid cancer, a fairly common malignant cancer, is an important thyroid
disorder in which the vast majority of patients have excellent long-term survival
rates with appropriate treatment. He concluded by elaborating on the symptoms
and causes of thyroid cancer and its treatment modalities.
The speaker and the panel,
that included Dr. Naeemul Haque, Dr. Lubna Zuberi and Dr. M. A. Khan, participated
in a question and answer session following the programme.
|
