noun
- a condition of severely stunted physical and mental growth due to untreated congenital deficiency of thyroid hormones
Usage: medical
Examples
- Cretinism can be prevented through early detection and treatment of thyroid deficiency.
- The doctor explained that cretinism results from inadequate thyroid hormone production during fetal development.
- Iodine deficiency in pregnant mothers can lead to cretinism in their children.
- Modern screening programs have greatly reduced the incidence of cretinism in developed countries.
- The symptoms of cretinism include intellectual disability and delayed physical development.
- Treatment with thyroid hormone replacement therapy can prevent cretinism if started early enough.