A study of spectrum of iodine deficiency disorders in rural area of Uttar Pradesh

In the present study, attempt has been made to study the spectrum of the iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) in a sub Himalayan hyperendemic area. Iodine deficiency has been found to enhance the conditions like abortion, still birth, higher infant mortality, neonatal chemical hypothyroidism, congenital anomalies, retarded growth, hypothyroidism, endemic goitre and endemic cretinism.Iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) affects approximately 200 million people worldwide. An estimated 150 million people in India are at risk of IDD. The authors studied the full spectrum of IDD in the Colonelganj community development block of Gonda district, an area in which the prevalence of goiter has been reported to be 60-80%. Findings are based upon interview and clinical examination findings for 500 subjects contacted in a door-to-door survey. Data were confirmed with auxiliary nurse midwife and primary health center records. IDD was found to enhance conditions such as abortion, still birth, infant mortality, neonatal chemical hyponyroidism, congenital anomalies, retarded growth, hypothyroidism, endemic goiter, and endemic cretinism.