[Iodine deficiency and other potential goitrogens in the persistence of endemic goiter in Mexico].
OBJECTIVE
To measure the frequency of goiter and the presence of potential goitrogens in a sample of school-age children and pregnant women.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study in a purposive sample in three regions, one with known high prevalence of goiter (Huejutla), one with unknown prevalence (Ixmiquilpan) and one with no expected deficiency (Pachuca). Children were sampled from schools and pregnant women from rural reference hospitals. Goiter was evaluated by manual exam and ultrasound.


RESULTS
Goiter prevalence in 673 children between 6 and 14 years old was 8% in Pachuca, 9% in Ixmiquilpan, and 14% in Huejutla. In 300 pregnant women, goiter prevalence was 19% in Pachuca, 20% in Ixmiquilpan, and 52% in Huejutla. In 936 interviews on salt consumption, 98% of families consumed table salt, but only 50% of the samples were adequately iodized. Twenty-four percent of families obtained water from wells contaminated with arsenicum and mercury in Pachuca and Ixmiquilpan, and with colibacilli in Ixmiquilpan.


CONCLUSIONS
Even at the end of the millenium, endemic goiter is still a public health problem in this sample of school-age children and pregnant women. Despite consumption of iodized salt, ingestions of goitrogens may be contributing to the persistence of this problem.
Martínez-Salgado
Homero
H
Unidad de Investigación en Epidemiología Nutricional, División de Investigación Epidemiológica y en Servicios de Salud, Coordinación de Investigación en Salud, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Unidad de Congresos, 4o. Piso, 06725 México, D.F.
Castañeda-Limones
Rutila
R
Lechuga-Martín del Campo
Diana
D
Ramos-Hernández
Rosa Isela
RI
Orozco-López
Maribel
M
Rivera-Dommarco
Juan
J
Mendoza
Iván
I
Magos
Clementina
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006043:Goiter, Endemic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007455:Iodine / Q000172:deficiency*; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015995:Prevalence
D007455:Iodine