title: [The present status of iodine deficiency disorders in Slovakia and perspectives in their prevention].
abstract: During 1949-1953 more than 157,000 of inhabitants were examined (i.e. more than 5% of total population) (Podoba, 1962) and the average prevalence of goitre of about 70% was found in women and about 40% in men. In the districts with the highest goitre prevalence also cretinism was found. The average values of urinary iodine in 86 villages were less than 35 micrograms/24 h. In 1951-1953 the production and mandatory consumption of iodized salt has been initiated and 10 years later a considerable decrease in goitre prevalence especially in adolescents was found. Systemic measurements during 1952-1994 showed that in about 25% of salt samples from the distribution network the iodine content was less than the requested amount of 25 +/- 10 mg KI/kg. Further decrease was found in the salt samples from households which apparently resulted in lower intake of iodine than originally expected. After 1987 some institutions joined the actions organized by ICC/IDD (International Council for Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders), the aim of which was to evaluate the present status of iodine intake and thyroid volume namely in children and adolescents from posttotalitary countries with which it was not possible to establish any cooperation before. The examination of thyroid volume by sonographic volumetry in 4254 children and adolescents showed that 9% of values were higher than 97 percentile level of what is currently being recognized as normal range (Gutekunst and Teichert, 1993).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: UEE SAV, Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Langer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006042:Goiter / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007455:Iodine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000172:deficiency*; D008297:Male; D018154:Slovakia / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D007455:Iodine