A STUDY OF IODINE DEFICIENCY DISORDERS AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN ALEXANDRIA

Abstract

Iodine deficiency is the world's single most significant cause of preventable brain damage and mental retardation.

Previous estimates in 1990 and 1992 by WHO suggested that one thousand million people were at risk ofiDD, i.e. living in iodine deficient areas where the goiter rate in the general population was over 10%. It was also estimated that over 200 million people worldwide had goiter.

In addition to goiter, which is the most obvious manifestation ofiDD, iodine deficiency in pregnant women may cause irreversible brain damage in the developing fetus. Infants and young children exposed to iodine deficiency may also suffer from brain damage, psychomotor retardation and intellectual impairment.

The more severe consequences ofiDD include cretinism, mental retardation, deaf­

mutisim, squint, spastic diplegia, coordination abnormalities, impaired learning

capacity, and dwarfism. Iodine deficiency also affects reproductive function, leading to increased rates of abortion, stillbirths, congenital anomalies, low birth weights, and infant and young child mortality. The 1990 WHO Report also estimated that some 26 million people suffered from brain damage associated with IDD, which included 6 million cretins.

Aim

The aim of this study is to detect the prevalence of iodine deficiency disorder among children through examination of the thyroid gland ofa representative sample of primary school children in Alexandria, assess the nutritional status, scholastic achievement, and intelligence quotient of these children, develop a surveillance system for monitoring the nutritional status of school children that can be integrated in the National Health Insurance Medical Plan, develop education program about IDD for both teachers and students in the schools.