Endemic goitre and excessive iodine in urine and drinking water among Saharawi refugee children
Henjum, Sigrun; Barikmo, Ingrid Elisabet; Gjerlaug, Anne Karine; Abderrahman, Mohamed; Oshaug, Arne; Strand, Tor A; Torheim, Liv Elin
Journal article, Peer reviewed, Journal article
Published version
Date
2010-04-01Metadata
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Original version
Public Health Nutrition 2010;13(9):1472-1477 http://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980010000650Abstract
Objective:
To assess the prevalence of enlarged thyroid volume (Tvol) in Saharawi
refugee children, and their urinary iodine concentration (UIC), and to identify
possible sources of excess iodine intake.
Design:
A cross-sectional survey was performed during January–February 2007.
Tvol was measured by ultrasound and iodine concentration was analysed in
casual urine samples, in household drinking water and in milk samples from
household livestock.
Setting:
The study was undertaken in four refugee camps in the Algerian desert.
Subjects:
The subjects were 421 Saharawi children, 6–14 years old.
Results:
Enlarged Tvol was found in 56 % (Tvol-for-age) and 86 % (Tvol-for-body-
surface-area) of the children. The median (25th percentile–75th percentile,
P
25
–P
75
) UIC was 565 (357–887)
m
g/l. The median (P
25
–P
75
) iodine concentration
in household drinking water was 108 (77–297)
m
g/l. None of the children had UIC
below 100
m
g/l, 16 % had UIC between 100 and 299
m
g/l, and 84 % had UIC above
300
m
g/l. There was a positive association between Tvol and whether the
household possessed livestock.
Conclusions:
The children are suffering from endemic goitre and high UIC caused
probably by an excessive intake of iodine. The excessive iodine intakes probably
originate from drinking water and milk.