Iodine nutrition and thyroid diseases among children aged 8-10 years in Quzhou

Objective To assess the iodine nutritional status and investigate the prevalence of thyroid diseases in schoolaged children in Quzhou.Methods A cluster sampling was applied in 6 districts in Quzhou city to select students aged 8-10 years from 30 schools.Thyroid disease was diagnosed by thyroid ultrasonography.Iodine concentration in dietary salt and urinary iodine concentration was assessed.Results The median salt iodine concentration was 22.4 mg/kg,the coverage rate of iodized salt was 98.46% and qualified iodized salt was 88.15%;The median urine iodine was 189.2 μ,g/L,and the thyroid nodule rate had no differences among students with different urine iodine levels(x2 =2.028,P>0.05).The goiter rate diagnosed by B ultrasound (1.91%) was higher than those assessed by palpation (0.34%)(x2 =6.582,P<0.05).The goiter and nodule rate had no differences in sex and different age group.Conclusion Current dietary iodine intake in school-aged children in Quzhou is generally sufficient and safe,but the thyroid nodule rate is at a high level.Considering the inaccuracy of the palpation,thyroid ultrasonography should be gold criteria for determination of iodine deficiency disease among school-aged children.