Thyrotoxicosis in Zaria, Nigeria: an update

The total number of operations performed for thyroid diseases at the ABU Teaching Hospital, Zaria from January 1986 to December 1995 has reduced. Those performed for thyrotoxicosis have tripled (18.5% of all thyroid operations compared to 5.7% ten years ago). Younger patients (mean age 27.7 years, range 13-15 years) with thyrotoxicosis are being seen but the clinical features of the disease and its management at the centre have not changed. It is suggested that the apparent increase in incidence and earlier onset of thyrotoxicosis in this environment may be due to the increasing use of iodised salt to combat endemic goitre.