CURRENT STATUS OF ENDEMIC GOITER IN CROATIA - THE RESULTS OF A NATIONWIDE STUDY (1995)

In the beginning of the nineties, 40 years after introduction of iodin e prophylaxis in Croatia, on a basis of a frequent reports coming from general practitioners about the presence of a rather high prevalence of goiter among schoolchildren, a nationwide study was initiated with the aim to determine the real prevalence of goiter in the country. A t otal of 2856 schoolchildren of both sexes, aged 7-15 years, were inclu ded into the study, Investigations were designed in a way to cover mos t of geographical regions in Croatia and subjects were randomly select ed. The prevalence of goiter in schoolchildren was assessed by palpati on and in part by ultrasonography of the neck. At the same time urinar y iodine excretion was measured and iodine content in salt samples was determined. The results have revealed the persistence of mild endemic goiter in inland parts of Croatia with the prevalence of 6-29% in the age group 7-11 years and those of 10-43% among the age group 12-15 ye ars. The overall goiter prevalence in schoolchildren in Croatia fluctu ates from 8% to 35%. Such prevalence, most probably due to less than o ptimum iodine intake, is unlikely to change until iodine content of th e salt is increased from its present level of 10 mg of KI per kg of sa lt.