Prevalence of endemic goiter in Mureş County

A number of 20,000 children representing 91.19% of all the enlisted children aged 6-14 years were examined. The clinical status of each child was assessed according to the WHO criteria. Goiter was found in 3,363 (16.81%) children. Of these, 1504 (44.72%) were boys and the zero degree, 2,137 (63.54%) to the 1 degree and 84 (2.49%) to the 2nd degree. As related to the total number of children examined, the zero degree goiter was found in 5.71%, the ist degree in 10.68% and the 2nd degree in 0.42% of the cases. The incidence of goiter in rural and urban areas was in the range of 6.80%-38.46%. Only in 2 areas the incidence was higher: 42.33% and 60%. A predominantly increased incidence was found in those areas which were not screened in 1951 and consequently prophylaxis was not constantly applied.