干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

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) mu g/l. The median (P(25)-P(75)) iodine concentration in household drinking water was 108 (77-297) mg/l. None of the children had UIC below 100 mu g/l, 16% had UIC between 100 and 299 mu g/l, and 84% had UIC above 300 mu 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.