Status of iodine deficiency in district Kangra, Himachal Pradesh after 60 years of salt iodization

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

District Kangra, Himachal Pradesh(HP), India is a known endemic area for iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) since 1956. The present study was conducted in district Kangra, Himachal Pradesh with the objective to assess the prevalence of iodine deficiency in school-age children.

Subjects/Methods:

A total of 1864 children in the age group of 6–12 years were included. Clinical examination of thyroid of all children was undertaken. ‘On the spot’ urine samples were collected from 463 children. The salt samples were collected from 327 children.

Results:

The total goiter prevalence of 15.8% was found. The proportion of children with urinary iodine excretion (UIE) levels <50.0, 50.0–99.9 and ⩾100 μg/l was 2.2, 14.3 and 83.5%, respectively. The median UIE level was 200 μg/l. About 82.3% of the families were consuming salt with iodine content ⩾15 ppm.

Conclusion:

The population in district Kangra is possibly in a transition phase from iodine deficient (as revealed by total goiter rate of 15.8%) to iodine sufficiency (as revealed by median UIE levels of 200 μg/l).