Prevalence of iodine deficiency disorders among school children in Egypt

ABSTRACT

A rapid assessment study was carried out to locate regions with high prevalence of I.D.D. where intervention is needed. The WHO grading system was used in classification of thyroid size. A sample of school children from the three education levels in the majority of the Egyptian governorates, covering age group from 6-18 years and representing three per thousand of the total number of schoolers were chosen randomly for the study. The overall prevalence of goiter in the examined sample was 6.7%. The prevalence of goiter had been found to increase with the increase in age as indicated by the educational level from primary, preparatory to secondary schools [5.2%, 6.4% and 7.8 respectively]. The highest prevalence of goiter 38% was found in the New Valley followed by Souhag governorate [14.8%]. All other governorates have a prevalence less than 10%. Menofia, Beheria and Port Said governorates presented the lowest prevalence. Urban and rural areas showed nearly no variation [6.9% for rural, 6.1% for urbans]. Females showed higher figures than males [8.6%, 4.6%] with nearly a ratio of 21. This study can point that the location, sources of water and fish consumption can have the major effect on the prevalence of I.D.D. The higher prevalence among females than males is a question that needs to be answered