Endemic goitre in rural South Delhi

One thousand and seventy-five children from the schools of 4 villages of rural South Delhi were clinically assessed for anatomical enlargement of thyroid gland. Goitre was graded according to WHO classification. One hundred and seventy-two children showed various grades of goitre giving a prevalence of total goitre in school children to be 16%. The problem of visible goitre (grades 2 and 3) was minimal and overwhelming majority of goitre cases belonged to lower grades. Though previous school goitre surveys from urban school children in Delhi give a prevalence as high as 55.2%, the prevalence of 16% in the present survey still categorizes rural South Delhi as mild endemic according to WHO/International classification for control of iodine deficiency disorder (ICCIDD) criteria. In Delhi partial supply of iodised salt commenced, with effect from, 1-1-1984 and it was covered by 'Ban Notification-PFA Act' prohibiting the sale of sub-optimally iodised salt. There is a need for an area specific assessment of iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) and people's access to optimally iodised salt.