Iodine deficiency disorders among school children in upper Egypt: an epidemiologic study

Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) are the world's single most significant cause of preventable brain damage and mental retardation. Data regarding IDD in upper Egypt are scarce and even lacking. The aim of the present work was to study the prevalence of IDD and some potential risk factors in upper Egypt. Using a two-stage cluster sampling technique, 6750 school children aged 8-10 years were screened for IDD through clinical examination of the thyroid gland and determination of urinary iodine, from three governorates in upper Egypt, namely Al-Minya (population of 3.3 million), Assyut (population of 2.9 million), and Suhag (population of 3.1 million). Iodine was determined in samples of soil and drinking water. Overall, the prevalence rate of goitre was 34.6 per cent. The median urinary iodine level for children with goitre was 5.04 micrograms/dl compared to 14.81 micrograms/dl among children free of goitre. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that certain groups of school children were much more likely to develop goitre. They included females (OR = 3.07, 95 per cent CI = 2.78-3.39), children in households where drinking water had an iodine content of less than 0.5 microgram/100 ml (OR = 3.44, 95 per cent CI = 3.09-3.89), and children living in places where soil content of iodine was less than 0.2 microgram/100 g (OR = 2.67, 95 per cent CI = 2.30-3.10). We conclude that IDD is a severe public health problem in upper Egypt. The present situation in upper Egypt necessitates an urgent intervention programme.