title: [The iodine prophylaxis: the experience in the Autonomous Province of Bolzano (South Tyrol).]
abstract: Since ancient times in South Tyrol there was evidence of endemic goitre caused by iodine deficiency. In the early 80's an epidemiological research on adults and primary and secondary school children reported in the least a prevalence of goitre from grade 1 B-3 (WHO) of 23,66% (limits WHO >5%) and an urinary iodine of 10,2 µgI/L. Therefore South Tyrol population presented heavy endemic goitre. In 1982 started a generalized iodine prophylaxis with alimentary iodined salt after an intense prevention campaign. In 1990 it has been done another epidemiological research on primary and secondary school children of the province (neck palpation, thyroid ultrasound, blood and urine tests) which revealed a prevalence of goitre from grade 1 B (WHO) of 1,6% (limits WHO >5%) and an urinary iodine of 137,1 µgI/L. Therefore in South Tyrol there was no more evidence of endemic goitre. In 2001 another research over primary and secondary school children, of the same areas and with the same approaches of the previous researches reported a prevalence of goitre of 1,5% and a median of urinary iodine of 230 µgI/L. On the basis of the data of Istituto Superiore di Sanità (National Institute of Health) can be stated that in the Province of Bolzano there's a low presence of congenital hypothyroidism. It has been observed an increase in the thyroiditis and in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer was marked an accentuation of papillar forms, less aggressive than the follicula. Unfortunately since 2001 no new epidemiological researches were done, due to lack of financial resources and the raising of other sanitary problems of higher priority.
authors.affiliation: Corresponsabile Campagna Provinciale Iodoprofilassi, Ambulatorio per le Tireopatie, Clinica Villa Melitta, Bolzano.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Franzellin
authors.affiliation: Servizio di Dietetica e Nutrizione Clinica, Comprensorio Sanitario di Bolzano.
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lucchin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006043:Goiter, Endemic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007455:Iodine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000172:deficiency; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D013966:Thyroiditis / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary; C034024:iodized salt; D007455:Iodine