[Goiter in pre-school children from the Rzeszów district]

The examination included 1594 children at the age of 3 to 6 from the city Rzeszów (834) and from villages in the Rzeszów district chosen at random (760). There were 865 boys (54.3%) and 729 girls (45.7%) in the group. The size of thyroid gland was measured according to the modified classification of WHO from 1974. All the examined children were in the clinical euthyroid state. Enlarged thyroid gland was found in 369 children (23.1%). Goiter OB was diagnosed in 271 children, I degree in 85, II degrees in 11, III degrees in 2. Enlargement of thyroid gland occurred significantly more often in rural areas (36.8%) than in towns (14.8%). The lowest percentage of goiter was found in 3-year-olds. These results point out that the province is an endemic area of mild goiter. Emphasis was put on the necessity to increase goiter prevention in the Rzeszów district.