What Are the Symptoms of Iodine Deficiency?

A series of diseases caused by iodine deficiency in the body were formerly named as endemic goiter and endemic cretinism. Now they are collectively called iodine deficiency disease. There were no obvious clinical symptoms in the early stage, and the thyroid was mild and moderately swollen, soft and no tenderness. Very few people with obvious swelling may experience compression symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, and irritating cough.

Basic Information

nickname: Endemic goiter, endemic cretinism
English name: iodine deficient disorder
Visiting department: Internal medicine
Common locations: thyroid

Common causes: Environmental iodine deficiency, insufficient iodine intake
Common symptoms: The thyroid gland is mild and moderately swollen, soft and without tenderness. Very few symptoms of obvious swelling: compression: difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, etc.

Causes of Iodine Deficiency

The main cause of iodine deficiency disease is the lack of iodine in the environment and insufficient human intake of iodine. The disease is widely distributed in many provinces and regions in China. The disease is more common in mountainous areas far from the coast and high altitudes, and the iodine content in soil, water and food in endemic areas is extremely low.

Clinical manifestations of iodine deficiency disorders

Endemic goiter has no obvious clinical symptoms in the early stage, the thyroid gland is mild and moderately diffuse, soft and no tenderness. Very few people with obvious swelling may experience compression symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, and irritating cough. Posterior sternum goiter may have symptoms of esophageal or superior vena cava compression. Thyroid function is basically normal, but some patients have reduced thyroid function due to insufficient thyroid compensation function, affecting intelligence and growth. A few patients with endemic goiter have elevated TSH levels due to long-term serum. When supplemented with iodine, thyroxine is synthesized too much and hyperthyroidism is formed. Endemic cretinism can be divided into three types: nerve type, myxedema type and mixed type. Most are mixed.

Iodine Deficiency Test

1. Urinary iodine is generally very low, and iodine deficiency disorders are generally found in areas with severe iodine deficiency. Residents' urinary iodine levels are often below 20 µg / g creatinine.

2. Thyroid hormone test.

3. Iodine absorption rate.

4. Anti-thyroid antibodies.

5. X-ray inspection.

6. Hearing and vestibular function tests.

7. EEG examination.

8. Brain CT examination.

9. Thyroid imaging examination.

Diagnosis of Iodine Deficiency

Diagnosis based on typical clinical manifestations and iodine deficiency.

Complications of iodine deficiency disorders

There may be complications such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, thyroid cancer, and softening of the trachea.

Iodine deficiency treatment

Children with mild thyroid enlargement can take iodine / potassium iodide (compound iodine solution) or potassium iodide orally until the goiter subsides and the urine iodine is normal, or intramuscular iodine can be injected. For children with moderate thyroid enlargement, thyroid powder (tablets) can be taken orally to make the thyroid gland shrink or disappear; if the thyroid enlargement is obvious or causes compression symptoms or suspected cancer, surgery should be performed. In the process of using iodine preparations, pay attention to iodine hyperthyroidism caused by excessive iodine supplementation, and also need to be alert to iodine allergy or iodine poisoning.

Prognosis of iodine deficiency disorders

For residents in iodine-deficient areas, iodized salt must be consumed for generations. Once stopped, endemic goiter will still recur. In general, diffuse goiter can return to normal 6 to 12 months after continuous iodine supplementation, and it takes several years for a few, but the nodules generally do not disappear due to iodine supplementation.

Iodine deficiency prevention

The following methods are often used to prevent

Iodized salt

Sodium iodide or potassium iodide is added to the table salt at a concentration of 1: 1 to 20,000.

2. Iodized drinking water

Potassium iodide is added to drinking water, and 1 g of potassium iodide is added according to 100,000 L of water (that is, 10 g of potassium iodide per liter of water).

3. Iodine oil injection

It is suitable for areas with low incidence and without the need for general iodine addition.

4. Eat more foods rich in iodine

Such as kelp, laver, seaweed, sea fish and shrimp.