Problem
Iodine deficiency disorders
Other Names:
Absence of dietary iodineInsufficient iodine intake
Lack of iodine in diets
Nature:
Iodine deficiency causes goitre, hypothyroidism, retarded physical development and impaired mental function, increased rate of spontaneous abortion and stillbirth, neurological cretinism, including deaf mutism and myxoedematous cretinism, dwarfism and severe mental retardation. It is the most common cause of preventable mental defect in the world today.
Incidence:
WHO estimated in 1990 that there were one billion people at risk of iodine deficiency disorders in developing countries. 190 million suffered from goitre and 20 million from mental defects due to iodine deficiency. Of these, more than 3 million were overt cretins. In 1997, 60% of the world's edible salt was iodized to combat the deficiency.
A 1995 survey of infants in China revealed that 35% to 65% had iodine deficiencies. A third of the global 1.6 billion iodine deficiency cases are in China. In 1997 in Georgia there was a widespread iodine deficiency and the 50,000 babies born there will be intellectually duller than normal by 10 IQ points.
Broader Problems:
Nutritional deficienciesHuman deficiency diseasesMassive avoidable ill-healthNutritionally-induced mental illness Narrower Problems:
Congenital iodine deficiency syndromeEndemic goitreThyroid disorders Strategies:
Improving nutritional value of staple foodsStudying micronutrient deficienciesProviding dietary supplementsCorrecting iodine deficiency disorders Subject(s):
Fundamental Sciences → Non-metallic chemical elementsHealth Care → Nutrition
Medicine → Pathology
Societal Problems → Deprivation
Societal Problems → Scarcity
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Problem Type:
D: Detailed problems Date of last update
04.10.2020 – 22:48 CEST