Infantilism, Brissaud’s


An eponym that is little used (in the USA) for hypothyroidism (subnormal activity of the thyroid gland) that starts after birth and is manifest by features including delays in growth and development and myxedema surfacing during infancy. Myxedema is a dry waxy type of swelling, often with swollen lips and nose. Infantile hypothyroidism is synonymous with infantile myxedema. Named for the French physician Edouard Brissaud (1852-1909).

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