Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the Thyroid: Frequently Asked Questions

source: American Thyroid Association

year: 2020

Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the Thyroid:
Frequently Asked Questions

Over the past days and weeks, the American Thyroid Association® and its members have heard many important concerns raised by both patients and their providers about how the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic might impact people living with thyroid conditions. Here, we address the most frequently asked questions thus far.

-Are people with autoimmune thyroid disease, such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or Graves’ disease, at more risk for acquiring COVID-19 or having a more serious COVID-19 infection?

-Are there any shortages of levothyroxine?

-How do patients taking methimazole for hyperthyroidism tell the difference between a COVID-19 infection or side effects of methimazole?

-How can methimazole be given to patients with critical illness?

-Is it safe to delay a biopsy of my thyroid nodule?

-Are people with thyroid cancer at more risk from COVID-19 because they are immunocompromised?

-Is it safe to delay thyroid cancer surgery because of the current COVID-19 pandemic?

-Is it safe to delay radioactive iodine treatment because of the current COVID-19 pandemic?