Comprehensive guide on Cretinism , a disease caused by hypothyroidism. Understand the causes, symptoms, types, diagnosis, and treatment of Cretinism . Also, learn about the difference between Cretinism and Dwarfism. Also known as cretinism , it is a condition caused by insufficient thyroid hormone production due to low iodine intake during pregnancy. It affects physical and mental development, and can be prevented by iodine supplementation and newborn screening. Cretinism results from untreated congenital hypothyroidism during prenatal development, causing severe physical and mental retardation. Cretinism , types, causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment are provided below. Cretinism is due to dietary iodine deficiency and can be prevented by correction of iodine deficiency before pregnancy. Cretinism is the most serious iodine deficiency disorder and occurs when a pregnant women is severely iodine deficient.