Thyroid disease in Uganda

A five-year retrospective study of thyroid disease in an Uganda hospital shows that about 67% of cases are due to goitrous hyperplasia, with colloid diffuse goitre twice as common as nodular goitre. It also notes that goitre rates in neighbouring countries are high, and suggests that a survey to assess its prevalence in Uganda is necessary. I deficiency as an etiological factor and the advantage of a national salt iodization programme are discussed. The rising incidence of thyrotoxicosis (11.4%) is in keeping with its increasing frequency elsewhere in Africa. The incidence of neoplastic diseases of the thyroid is low. Chronic thyroiditis was not seen.