An enlarged thyroid gland is called goitre. People with a goitre may have a swollen neck and sometimes even difficulty in breathing and swallowing. Iodine deficiency used to be the classic cause of a goiter in the past. The causes of a goitre are various, so the treatment will depend on the specific disease.
The thyroid gland is located in the neck, just below and in front of the Adam’s apple and its shape looks like a butterfly. When the gland enlarges abnormally it is called a goitre. The most common cause is iodine deficiency, but certain diseases and inflammations can also cause goitre.
The causes of a goitre are various. However, the deficiency of iodine used to be the most common reason. Nowadays in many countries there is a tiny amount of iodine supplemented in the table salt in order to prevent this problem. Besides that, there are many other factors that can cause a goitre. For example, an immune disease such as Grave’s disease or Hashimoto’s disease can affect the gland and result in a goitre. Abnormal nodules on the gland may also affect the normal function of thyroid gland and eventually lead to a goitre. Thyroid cancer and inflammation are also factors that irritate the gland and make it enlarged. People with a goitre may present with a swollen neck and sometimes also have difficulties in eating and breathing.
Since the causes of a goitre are various, the treatment will depend on the underlying disease. Generally speaking, to relieve the symptoms of a goitre, the treatment will include medications to adjust the level of thyroid hormone. In some cases radioactive iodine will be used to decrease the size of the thyroid gland. In other cases, especially with a malignant tumor a surgery will be necessary to remove the gland. For prevention of a goitre a supplement of iodine is advised.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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