[Effect of three years obligatory iodine prophylaxis on the incidence of goiter in school children fron the seaside region of Poland]. / Wplyw trzyletniej obowiazkowej profilaktyki jodowej na czestosc wystepowania wola u dzieci szkolnych w regionie nadmorskim Polski.

UNLABELLED: In 1993 a mild iodine deficiency in the seaside region of Poland was revealed. In 1997 a mandatory iodine prophylaxis was introduced. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of goiter in schoolchildren aged 12-15 years from the seaside area after 3 years of obligatory iodine prophylaxis. The study comprised 628 children (291 boys and 337 girls). Thyroid size was estimated by palpation and by ultrasonography. Analysis of iodine excretion (Uroiod-Test Merck) was performed in 147 children. The goiter was found in 9% of children by palpation. The mean thyroid volume in 12 years old group was 9.3 +/- 5.1 ml, in 13 years old group 10.6 +/- 4.2 ml, 14 years old group 11.7 +/- 3.9 ml, 15 years 13.8 +/- 4.3 ml. The thyroid volume in girls was larger than that in boys. Thyroid volume above 97th percentile was assessed by ultrasound in 16% children (all of them from rural area). No goiter was found by palpation or ultrasound in children living in Gdansk Thyroid volume is closely correlated with iodine excretion, age and height. Urinary iodine excretion above 100 micrograms/l was stated in 68% children. CONCLUSIONS: Model of obligatory iodised salt prophylaxis is highly effective and is able to increase urinary iodine excretion and decrease of goiter prevalence. Ultrasound is especially recommended for the evaluation of thyroid volume in children from previously mild iodine deficiency areas.

[Newborn mass screening for congenital hypothyroidism in Gdansk region]. / Badania przesiewowe noworodków w kierunku wrodzonej niedoczynnosci tarczycy w regionie gdanskim.

Newborn mass screening for congenital hypothyroidism was introduced in the Gdansk region in 1993. During the period 1993-2001 180708 newborns were screened. The prevalence of congenital hypothyroidism was 1:4203. The prevalence of transient hyperthyrotropinemia before implementation of the program of universal salt iodization was 0.016%, after that 0.003%.The request rate for repeated samples was 0.47% before and 0.24% after salt iodization.