What is a endemic goiter?

Endemic goitre occurs when the prevalence of thyroid enlargement in the population of an area exceeds 10%. With few exceptions its cause is iodine deficiency superimposed on other goitrogenic factors normally present and responsible for sporadic goitre.

How can endemic goiters be prevented?

Prevention of endemic goiter depends mainly on increasing the iodine intake of people in endemic areas. When iodine intake reaches the estimated adult minimum requirement (100 to 150 micrograms per day), the prevalence of goiter decreases.

What is the most important factor in endemic goiter?

Iodine Deficiency (Endemic Goiter). The term endemic goiter denotes any goiter occurring in a region where goiter is prevalent. As mentioned, endemic goiter almost always occurs in areas of environmental iodine deficiency.

What are the symptoms of endemic goitre?

The main symptoms of goiter include:

A swelling in the front of the neck, just below the Adam’s apple.
A feeling of tightness in the throat area.
Hoarseness (scratchy voice)
Neck vein swelling.
Dizziness when the arms are raised above the head.

Which are the two types of goitre?

There are 2 main types of goitre:

diffuse goitre – where the entire thyroid gland swells and feels smooth to the touch.
nodular goitre – where solid or fluid-filled lumps called nodules develop within the thyroid and make the thyroid gland feel lumpy to touch; the nodules can be single or multiple and may contain fluid.

What is the treatment of goiter?

Medications for goiters may include one of the following: For increasing hormone production. An underactive thyroid is treated with a thyroid hormone replacement. The drug levothyroxine (Levoxyl, Thyquidity, others) replaces T-4 and results in the pituitary gland releasing less TSH .

What is the most common and cheapest method of preventing goitre?

Prevention. Using iodized table salt prevents most simple goiters.

How do you prevent a goiter?

Treatments for an enlarged thyroid include:

Thyroid hormone replacement pills if the goiter is due to an underactive thyroid.
Small doses of Lugol’s iodine or potassium iodine solution if the goiter is due to a lack of iodine.
Radioactive iodine to shrink the gland if the thyroid is producing too much thyroid hormone.

How do you treat a goiter without surgery?

Radioactive Iodine This treatment is mainly used to shrink a goiter or nodule that causes the thyroid to produce too much thyroid hormone. The iodine is given as a capsule or liquid. Once swallowed, it concentrates in the thyroid and destroys some or all of the thyroid tissue, without harming other tissues.

Which salt are used for treatment of goitre?

The use of iodized salt in the United States prevents a lack of iodine in the diet. Other causes of goiter include: The body’s immune system attacking the thyroid gland (autoimmune problem)

What is the treatment for endendendemic goiter goiter?

endemic goiter goiter occurring widely in a geographic region where the food or water is deficient in iodine. Treatment consists of iodine replacement; although this will not cure the condition, it can stop it from enlarging, and iodine administered in advance will prevent development of goiter.

What are the causes of endemic goiter?

Nutrition plays a role in the development of endemic goiters. Dietary factors include iodine deficiency, goitrogens, protein malnutrition, and energy malnutrition. Often these factors occur concurrently.

What does goiter mean in medical terms?

Definition / general. Defined as thyroid enlargement due to iodine deficiency, primarily dietary deficiency. Endemic goiter term is used when the local prevalence is greater than 5 – 10%. Common in mountainous and iodine deficient areas of the world where the diet contains insufficient amount of iodine.

What is the relationship between iodine deficiency and goiter?

When there is nutritional deficiency of iodine, there is decreased capacity of the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones Due to the negative feedback, there is increased secretion of TSH by hypothalamus Increased TSH results in diffuse hypertrophy of thyroid glandular tissue which manifests grossly as a goiter