ABSTRACT
Iodine deficiency is a major public health problem, particularly for pregnant women and young children, and is the commonest cause of preventable mental retardation as well as endemic goitre. especially in developing countries. The aim of the study was to measure the urinary iodine concentration among a sample of basic school children to detect the magnitude of the problem of iodine deficiency, detect the prevalence of goitre among the studied sample and study of relevant symptoms and signs in those diagnosed to have iodine deficiency. The study was carried out on 421 students selected from Menofiya governmental basic school children with age range 6-14 years. All the students were subjected to full history taking, general medical examination, local examination of the neck and laboratory investigations including determination of urinary iodine and measuring of total T3 and T4 thyroid hormones for [40 students] with iodine deficiency. and [10] students who had normal urinary iodine concentration. The study showed that the majority [51.1%] of the studied group had mild iodine deficiency. [18.5%] had moderate deficiency, [7.8%] had severe deficiency, and only [22.6%] had normal urinary iodine concentration using WHO recommended cut off values. A significant difference between the two goitre grades [grade 0 and grade 1] regarding the mean value of urinary iodine concentration level [P <0.001]. a significant difference between different patterns of iodine deficiency as regard the mean value of T4 thyroid hormone [P<0.05]. but not with T3 [P>0.05]. Children not suffering from iodine deficiency showed normal values of T4 but lower values were found in those suffering from iodine deficiency. Easy fatigability. pallor and constipation were more prevalent among those students with severe iodine deficiency compared to those suffering from mild and moderate deficiency and those having normal urinary iodine [P<0.05]. It could be concluded that urinary iodine concentration was decreased in all goitrous children, so we recommend routine urinary examination for iodine concentration for school children at school entry to detect those with moderate and severe iodine deficiency to be subjected with their families to health education program about the health hazards of iodine deficiency and the importance of the usage of iodine