Question

Which hormonal deficiency is responsible for cretinism?

Answer 1

Cretinism is also known as Congenital hypothyroidism. It is a state of stunted physical and mental growth in newborns, caused mainly by iodine deficiency in the mother.

Complete answer:
Cretinism or congenital hypothyroidism is the state where growth retardation and abnormal features occur in newborn babies or children. The main cause of this is the deficiency of thyroid hormone in the baby. The disease can be due to a lack of iodine in the mother's diet during pregnancy.

Additional Information: During pregnancy, the child in the womb depends on the mother for thyroid hormone supply. The effects caused by a lack of thyroid hormone in mothers can cause permanent harm to the child if not treated soon after birth. Cretinism can also occur by a defect in the baby's thyroid gland.
Cretinism is a rare case seen approximately 1 in 2000 to 1 in 4000 newborns. Symptoms of this disease are stunning physical and mental growth, lack of weight gain, fatigue, excessive sleep, yellow skin and white of the eye, hoarse voice, etc.
It is caused mainly by a lack of iodine in the mother's nutrition during pregnancy. Therefore, it is advised for the mother to take at least 220mg of iodine daily. Other causes might be missing and abnormal thyroid gland, genetic defect, use of harmful medicines during pregnancy, etc.

Note: Congenital hypothyroidism or cretinism is a rare case and typically seen in developing countries where iodine deficiency is pretty common. Another disease similar to cretinism is myxedema. It is the state of the underactive thyroid gland in an adult. It shouldn’t be confused with cretinism as it is the thyroid deficiency disease and mainly seen in infants.