[Prevalence of somatic diseases in children with endemic goiter]

A total of 1649 children aged 0 to 16 years were examined in the Khvalynsk district of the Saratov region endemic for goiter. Age-specific features of prevalence of goiter and chronic somatic diseases were studied. Goiter was found to form starting from the first years of life, with its morbidity peaks observed at the age of 3, 5, 7, and 12. Disease incidence in children with endemic goiter was found to be higher than in those without thyroid abnormalities.