title: Endemic juvenile hypothyroidism in a severe endemic goitre area of Sudan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to assess thyroid function, iodine intake and exposure to dietary goitrogens of children living in an area with a high prevalence of goitre, in the region of Darfur, Sudan.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a village where goitre affected approximately 85% of children, a cross-sectional survey of thyroid function was performed in children 0-7 years old.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty neonates and 190 children, aged 1 month to 7 years, were included.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thyroid hormones, urinary iodide and thiocyanate excretion were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean +/- SD serum T4 was below the normal range at birth (82 +/- 50 nmol/l) and in the age group less than 2 years (73 +/- 46). Children older than 2 years had even lower serum T4: 37 +/- 37 (P < 0.001) at 3-4 years and 36 +/- 38 (P < 0.001) at 5-7 years. Mean serum TSH was 25.8(6.2-107.7) mU/l at birth, 8.3(2.5-27.8) in the group less than 2 years, 15.3(2.9-79.1) at 3-4 years and 16.4(2.7-98.3) at 5-7 years. The overall prevalence of hypothyroidism (TSH > 50 mU/l) was 24%. Mean urinary thiocyanate was high at birth (107 +/- 69 mumol/l), normal in the group less than 2 years and higher in children older than 2 years (126 +/- 69 mumol/l) (P < 0.001). All age groups had a low urinary iodide concentration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypothyroidism was very frequent in each age group. The higher frequency of hypothyroidism observed in weaned children (> 2 years) was attributed to the combined effects of iodine deficiency and goitrogens (thiocyanate and glycosylflavones) derived from millet.
authors.affiliation: Cemubac Medical Team, Public Health School, Free University of Brussels, Belgique.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moreno-Reyes
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boelaert
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: el Badawi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eltom
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Vanderpas
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006043:Goiter, Endemic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007455:Iodine / Q000172:deficiency*; D008297:Male; D013397:Sudan / Q000453:epidemiology; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D013972:Thyrotropin; D007455:Iodine