Endemic goiter is a type of

goitre A goitre, or goiter, is a swelling in the neck resulting from an enlarged thyroid gland. A goitre can be associated with a thyroid that is not functioning properly. Worldwide, over 90% of goitre cases are caused by iodine deficiency. The term is ...

that is associated with dietary iodine deficiency.

Cause

Some inland areas where soil and water lacks in iodine compounds and consumption of marine foods is low are known for higher incidence of

. In such areas goitre is said to be "

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...

Prevention

This type of goiter is easily preventable. In most developed countries regulations have been put into force by health policy institutions requiring salt, flour or water to be fortified with iodine.

Treatment

Treatment of endemic goiter is medical with iodine and

thyroxine File:Thyroid_system.svg, upright=1.5, The thyroid system of the thyroid hormones T3 and T4 rect 376 268 820 433 Thyroid-stimulating hormone rect 411 200 849 266 Thyrotropin-releasing hormone rect 297 168 502 200 Hypothalamus rect 66 216 386 25 ...

preparations. Surgery is only necessary in cases where complicated by significant compression of nearby structures.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Endemic Goiter Mineral deficiencies Iodine Endocrine diseases