A high prevalence of hypothyroidism in association with endemic goitre in Zimbabwean schoolchildren.
One-hundred-and-eighty-eight ostensibly normal, pubertal schoolchildren, aged 9-16 years, residing in Chinamora Communal Land, Zimbabwe, had blood taken to assess thyroid function. Total goitre rate in the area was 44 per cent in primary schoolchildren: 91 of the subjects tested were goitrous. Thyroid stimulating hormone levels (TSH) were above normal (5.0 mu/l) in 66 subjects overall, of whom 39 were goitrous. The 36 subjects with TSH levels above 7.0 mu/l also had total thyroxine (T4) estimations performed: of these, 19 were below 60 nmol/l. The results indicate a high prevalence of hypothyroidism in this at risk group. The implications of these results are discussed, notably the impairment of mental function that is likely to result.
Todd
C H
CH
Department of Community Medicine, University of Zimbabwe Medical School, Harare.
Sanders
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D006043:Goiter, Endemic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D015030:Zimbabwe / Q000453:epidemiology
D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine