A Hispanic female, age 27, has come to the clinic with a complaint of rapid weight loss during the past 6 months despite having a voracious appetite and also that, with the onset of hot weather, she is feeling extreme discomfort. Furthermore, she feels extremely anxious without reporting any severe stressor in her personal life. Her physical exam reveals tachycardia (pulse rate > 100 bpm), fine moist skin, a fine tremor, and a symmetrically enlarged thyroid. Further blood work demonstrates elevated free thyroxine (> 10 pmol/l) with TSH at less than 0.2 mlU/l. What are the main presenting issues? Include why they may have arisen.
Identify at least one website that you used to learn more about the issues and potential solutions; briefly explain what was found at the website(s).
What is (are) the potential disease or disorder? Include (a) a justification for your decision, (b) the causal agent, and (c) the mode of transmission.
What is the recommended treatment for the most likely disease or disorder you identified?
What is the prognosis for the disease or disorder (a) without treatment and (b) with treatment?