What are the causes of goitre?

Question: What are the causes of goitre?
- Keywords:
  goitre
Asked by stay20dye to Arnold, Edna, Elkana, Gliday, Jacinta, Michael, Mike, Mmboyi, Sally on 22 Jul 2025.
- Arnold Lambisia answered on 22 Jul 2025:
  
  Goitre is an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland, which is located at the base of the neck and is caused by iodine deficiency, an overactive thyroid, genetic factors and certain medication are risk factors for goitre.
- Michael Kimwele answered on 22 Jul 2025:
  
  Goitre is primarily caused by an iodine deficiency, which leads to an underproduction of thyroid hormones, prompting the thyroid gland to enlarge in an attempt to compensate. Other causes include autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or Graves’ disease, inflammation of the thyroid (thyroiditis), certain medications like lithium, and in rare cases, genetic conditions or nodules and tumors within the thyroid gland.

Question: What are the causes of goitre?