New foci of endemic goitre in Eastern Nigeria

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
An investigation of endemic goiter in Eastern Nigeria by means of a simple rapid case finding technique (market count) is described. It is suggested that an incidence of over 10% of goiter in females, discovered by this technique, should be regarded as abnormal. Foci of endemic goiter are concentrated in the northern parts of Eastern Nigeria and these foci are continuous with similar foci in Northern Nigeria, and the neighboring Cameroun. No constant relationship is found between high altitude and endemic goiter, nor is endemic goiter confined to geological areas of precambrian granite. Evidence so far available suggests that environmental iodine deficiency may be of importance in Nigeria. The status of goitrogens is as yet undetermined but recent work on rats has suggested that cassava (manihot) contains a goitrogen, the action of which resembles that of Brassica vegetables and thiourea derivatives.