Thyroid Storm Masquerading as Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome: Catch Me if You Can

A 65-year-old man presented to the emergency medicine department with altered sensorium, a high-grade fever, and shock. On routine workup, he was diagnosed with acute respiratory distress syndrome with sepsis. Later, it was found that the patient had undetectable serum thyroid stimulating hormone and high triiodothyronine (T3) levels, which were diagnosed as a thyroid storm. This highlights the fact that a thyroid storm can present in any way and should be considered when determining the cause of septic shock that is not responding to standard treatment. A rare endocrine emergency, thyroid storm is a life-threatening endocrinological emergency with a considerable death rate of between 10% and 30% and multi-organ failure. It happens in thyrotoxic patients and manifests as the decompensation of several organs brought on by extreme stress. In addition to shock, the patient also had altered sensory perception, a cough, a fever, palpitations, and a sore throat. The patient was initially diagnosed with septic shock and was later treated with oral carbimazole, higher antibiotics, inotropes, and propranolol.