ABSTRACT
Objective To master the Keshan disease situation, guide and evaluate Keshan disease control work scientifically, and consolidate the control achievements in Ganquan County of Shannxi Province. Methods According to the scheme of National Keshan Disease Surveillance, the residents were surveyed including the case history, blood-pressure, electrocardiogram and X-ray examinations for chronic and suspected cases. Levels of selenium in hair and grain were determined by the diaminonaphthalene method. Results Twenty latent and one chronic Keshan disease patients were detected, accounting for 2.67% (20/749) and 0.13% (1/749), respectively, of surveyed residents in Leoshan Village. Electrocardiography showed abnormalities in 82 of the 749 surveyed individuals(10.95%). The heart-chest ratio was increased in seven of 16 chronic or suspected Keshan disease patients. The content of selenium in hair, wheat and millet was (0.335±0.102), (0.045±0.019), (0.029±0.017)mg/kg, respectively. Conclusions Keshan disease prevalence showed a stable and decreasing tendency due to the general control measures, especially supplementation of selenium in food in Ganquan County. No acute or subacute Keshan disease occurred. Currently, latent and chronic Keshan diseases are the main types of Keshan disease.