EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Cretinism is a condition of severely stunted physical and mental growth due to untreated congenital deficiency of thyroid hormones (congenital hypothyroidism). Congenital hypothyroidism can be endemic, genetic, or sporadic.

Detailed explanation-2: -“Cretinism refers to the congenital hypothyroidism or underactivity of thyroid glands during early childhood leading to stunted growth and mental retardation.”

Detailed explanation-3: -Iodine deficiency is well known as cause of cretinism in fetus and newborn, characterized by low birth weight, short stature, mental retardation, deaf, and/or mutism. Iodine deficiency in later period of life causes goiter commonly seen in low iodine intake region.

Detailed explanation-4: -The pituitary gland “tells” the thyroid gland whether to release more or less hormones into the bloodstream. Also, a certain amount of thyroid hormones are attached to transport proteins in the blood. If the body needs more hormones, T3 and T4 can be released from the proteins in the blood and do their job.

Detailed explanation-5: -Cretinism leads to dwarfism with serious mental retardation and the individuals are called cretins. Thyroxine is a major hormone that is produced by the thyroid gland and contains iodine. The deficiency of iodine in the diet causes less secretion of thyroxine causing cretinism.