CURRENT CHARACTERISTICS OF ENDEMIC GOITER IN 3 CENSOR AREAS OF CHILE

The goal of the present study was to evaluate the current status of en demic goiter in Chile. 3500 students of basic education from public sc hools in three censor areas of the country were studied: 1000 in Calam (North), 1000 in Temuco (South) and 1500 in Santiago (Center). Socio- economic level was evaluated according to the Graffar scale. Two train ed physicians determined body weight, height and size of the goiter th rough palpation of the thyroid gland (according to W.H.O. classificati on). Iodine in urine was determined in 20% of the students. Iodine ins alt was determined in samples obtained in the three areas. A goiter pr evalence of goiter of 11.4% in males and 12% in females was found, wit h a higher prevalence in females during puberty. A higher prevalence i n the medium-low and low socio-economical levels was observed (12.4% a nd 14.4% respectively). The level of salt iodination was variable in t he three areas (1/3 with concentration > than 100 parts per million (p pm), 1/3 between 60-100 ppm and 1/3 with <60 ppm of iodine content). A ccording to W.H.O. criteria, Chile has presently a low goiter prevalen ce, but the salt iodine concentration indicate the importance of a per manent surveillance of iodine nutrition.