THE RELATINONSHIP BETWEEN KEMAH WELDING SALT USE AND IODINE DEFICIENCY IN SECONDARY SCHOOL CHILDREN

OBJECTIVE: Iodine deficiency is the most common cause of thyroid diseases. We aimed to investigate the relationship between iodine deficiency, thyroid gland volume and academic success in middle-aged children of iodide-poor Kemah source salt, which is widely used in our region.MATERIAL AND METHODS: 185 students studying in Kemah region was involved in the research. The type of table salt which the students involved in the study used in their homes was questioned. Urine iodine level and measures of ultrasonography and thyroid gland volume were carried out.RESULTS: It was discovered that while 133 (71.9%) of the students had severe iodine deficiency and 39 (21%) had mild-moderate iodine deficiency, 13 of them (7.1%) had normal urinary iodine levels. Iodine deficiency was observed in 133 (95.7%) of 139 students using Kemah source salt, whereas out of 46 students using iodised table salt, 39 (84.8%) had iodine deficiency (p <0.001). It was also found that among 185 students included in the study, 124 (65.4%) had normal but 61 (34.6%) had increased thyroid gland volume. Thyroid volume was found significantly high in Kemah source salt users (p = 0.001). Students with low urine iodine levels had low school success (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The iodine content of low source salts, which are used traditionally in some regions, increases iodine deficiency rate in children and decreases children’s academic achievement. This situation should be taken into consideration in prevention studies of iodine deficiency and the level of knowledge of local people on this should be increased.