Prevalence of endemic goiter among school children of central and southern Chile
Pozo, M.; Rodewald, A.M.; Biolley, E.; Zvaighaft, A.; Leiva, L.; Muzzo, S.
Revista Chilena de Pediatria 60(6): 359-362
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0370-4106 PMID: 2520843 Document Number: 331919
The prevalence of endemic goiter was evaluated during 1986 in 1,015 school age children from basic public schools of Santiago and Temuco, Chile. The prevalence of goiter, defined by WHO's standards was 7.6% as a whole, without differences related to children's geographical origin. A greater prevalence of goiter, in females than in males, which increased with age, was detected. Prevalence of endemic goiter decreased from year 1982 to year 1986 from 18.8% to 7.4% in similar samples of school children from Santiago. This change may be due to preventive iodination of table salt.