After thyroid surgery which symptom would indicate hypocalcemia?

After thyroid surgery which symptom would indicate hypocalcemia?

• A. Rash
• B. Numbness around mouth, tetany
• C. Polyuria
• D. Tremor

Answer: (B)

After thyroid surgery, injury or removal of the parathyroid glands can cause hypocalcemia because parathyroid hormone (PTH) regulation of calcium is disrupted. Low calcium makes nerve membranes more excitable, leading to symptoms from increased neuromuscular activity. Numbness around the mouth with tetany is a classic early sign of this condition and indicates clinically significant hypocalcemia that warrants prompt management. Rash is not a feature of hypocalcemia, polyuria points more toward diabetes or diabetes insipidus, and tremor is nonspecific and less diagnostic compared with perioral numbness and tetany.

After thyroid surgery, injury or removal of the parathyroid glands can cause hypocalcemia because parathyroid hormone (PTH) regulation of calcium is disrupted. Low calcium makes nerve membranes more excitable, leading to symptoms from increased neuromuscular activity. Numbness around the mouth with tetany is a classic early sign of this condition and indicates clinically significant hypocalcemia that warrants prompt management.

Rash is not a feature of hypocalcemia, polyuria points more toward diabetes or diabetes insipidus, and tremor is nonspecific and less diagnostic compared with perioral numbness and tetany.