THYROID ENLARGEMENT

Taranaki Daily News, 27 February 1935, Page 9

THYROID ENLARGEMENT

CONDITIONS AT SCHOOL LARGE PERCENTAGE AFFECTED. NO REASON FOR ALARM SEEN. TREATMENT OF THE TROUBLE. An increase among Taranaki school children of the number of cases of enlarged thyroid gland has brought the question before the authorities at New Plymouth whether other factors .besides iodine content in the soil may possibly influence the occurrence of the disease. The larger figures do not, however, present cause for alarm, experts say.. Pronounced enlargement of the thyroid gland is caused by poverty of iodine in the food supply. The gland absorbs iodine through its surface, manufacturing the secretion iodo-thyrin, which is released into the blood stream. Shortage of iodine results in the gland enlarging its area of absorption and consequently in the ailment known as goitre. Taranaki was previously known as a fairly good district on account of a high iodine content in the soil enriching the water supply. Latterly, however, this belief has, been questioned. Early preventative measures were based on making up a deficiency of natural iodine, but the occurrence of other factors affecting the condition may reveal other lines of prevention. At present, however, it cannot be stated what the new contributing factors may be. i Routine examinations are always conducted at primary schools by the Health Department, which is thus able to observe the occurrence of enlarged glands and thus discover if any new tendencies develop. Dr. M. Champtaloup, district officer, recently examined pupils of the New Plymouth Girls’ High School. She found that 100 per cent, of the pupils were affected in some way. In 32.6 per cent, the enlargement was too slight to be seen, while in 64 per cent, there was obvious evidence of an enlargement. The parents of 3.2 per cent, of those examined were notified, the enlargement being sufficient to warrant medical attention. “The results at the high school are by no means so alarming as they may appear, and are what I expected following examination in the primary schools,” said Dr. Champtaloup yesterday. Thyroid enlargement was a condition expected during adolescence, particularly in girls. Nevertheless only 3 per cent, of the pupils were affected to any great extent; the rest of the cases would not be noticed at all by a layman.

She added that if brought before a medical practitioner the cases would probably be dismissed. Doctors could not waste time on treatments of minor manifestations that had no definite pathological basis. A difference lay, however, in the fact that the business of the Health Department was mainly preventive and that of the doctors curative. . She would like to see closer cooperation between the two. Preventative work undertaken by the department had once taken the form of issuing iodine tablets in schools. lodised salts, proved effective at Christchurch, was now advised for use in cooking and took the place of the tablets. Green vegetables, fresh fruit and fish were valuable. There was, however, no cause for this generation, and probably several after it, to feel alarm. The rising incidence was a manifestation which might or might not slowly develop.