Prevalence of goitre in school children of chamarajanagar district, karnataka, India.

INTRODUCTION

Iodine is an essential micronutrient. A daily consumption of 100-150 micrograms of iodine is recommended for normal human growth and development.

RATIONALE

Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) can be easily prevented. Simplest, most effective and inexpensive preventive method is consumption of iodated salt.

OBJECTIVES

To find out the prevalence of Goitre among school children in Chamarajanagar district, India, and to estimate iodine in salt samples.

METHODOLOGY

A cross-sectional study in the age group of 6-12 years using PPS systematic sampling method. A total of 3757 children were selected for the study. Clinical examination of the thyroid was done and salt samples were collected for Iodine estimation. Data was analyzed by using appropriate statistical tests.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of Goitre was found to be 7.74% in Chamarajanagar district, India. It was higher in female children compared to male children. The difference was more evident in Grade II cases where 64.47% cases were females and 35.53% cases were males and it showed an increasing trend with age (Class1-4.8%, Class 6-10.9%, Class 7-17.6%).

CONCLUSION

It was observed that IDD is endemic in the district with a prevalence of 7.74% among children of 6-12 years. Analysis of salt samples suggested that 28.42% samples had Iodine less than 15ppm.