High prevalence of subacute thyroiditis during summer season in Italy.
Eighty consecutive patients with typical subacute thyroiditis were evaluated. Sex distribution showed a higher incidence in females (F/M 3.2/1), with a mean age of 44 yr. In the majority of patients (51/80 = 66%) the onset of the disease was between June and September (46% in July and August). The remaining cases were distributed in the other months without a clear monthly prevalence. These results indicate that the seasonal distribution of subacute thyroiditis is almost superimposable to that of established infections due to some enteroviruses (Echovirus, Coxsackie A and B viruses), suggesting that summer enterovirus infections may be responsible for a large proportion of cases of subacute thyroiditis.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D013966:Thyroiditis / Q000453:epidemiology*