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Childhood goitre in Saudi Arabia
M A Abdullah1, H Salhi, A A al Herbish
1Department of Pediatrics, Security Forces Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Annals of Tropical Paediatrics
|January 13, 1998
Summary
In Saudi children, goitre (enlarged thyroid) is most commonly caused by thyroid hormone production issues (dyshormonogenesis) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Further research into goitre causes, including iodine deficiency, is recommended.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Thyroidology
- Public Health
Background:
- Goitre, or thyroid enlargement, is a significant health concern in children.
- Understanding the etiological spectrum of goitre is crucial for effective management and prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and causes of goitre in a cohort of Saudi children.
- To identify the most common etiologies of goitre in the pediatric population within Saudi Arabia.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of 32 Saudi children diagnosed with goitre over a 6.5-year period.
- Data collected included patient demographics, goitre type (diffuse or nodular), and etiological diagnosis.
Main Results:
- The most frequent causes of goitre were dyshormonogenesis (37.5%) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (34.4%).
- Diffuse thyroid enlargement was observed in 84.3% of cases, while nodular goitre occurred in 15.7%.
- Graves' disease, simple goitre, iodine deficiency goitre, and tuberculous thyroiditis were less common.
Conclusions:
- Dyshormonogenesis and Hashimoto's thyroiditis are the leading causes of goitre in Saudi children.
- The study highlights the need for further investigation into the prevalence and specific causes of goitre, including iodine deficiency, in Saudi Arabia.