Cretinism

Disease that arises due to congenital or early childhood hypofunction of the thyroid gland. This disease is caused by a deficiency of T₃ and T₄ or iodine in the mother’s body during pregnancy or infancy. It disrupts the development of children’s brains and the functioning of the central nervous system (CNS). The severity of the disease depends on the child’s age. If hypofunction of the thyroid gland starts in children under 2 years of age, before the CNS is fully formed, there is a significant disruption in mental and physical development, leading to profound mental retardation. If hypofunction of the thyroid gland starts in older children, physical development is more affected, manifesting as stunted growth.

Source | Glossary of Most Commonly Used Biomedical Terms and Concepts | Lithuanian University of Health Sciences | Academician Professor Antanas Praškevičius, Professor Laima Ivanovienė