Efecto de la yodación de la sal sobre la prevalencia de bocio endémico en niños escolares de Guatemala

Abstract

Successive surveys in school children in Guatemala show that a progressive reduction in endemic goiter prevalence has been achieved through the salt iodization programs. The results indicate that the initial prevalence of 37 percent in 1951-1952 dropped to 15 percent in 1962 and to 7 percent in 1964. Moreover, whereas in 1951-1952 the reports showed figures of 10 percent for Grade 2 goiter and 2 percent for Grade 3, these forms of the disease had virtually disappeared by 1962 and were no longer found among school children in the 1964 surveys. These findings clearly indicate the advisability of undertaking iodization programs in all areas where endemic goiter is present, and they show also that beneficial results can be achieved even when it is not possible to iodize the entire amount of salt produced