Epidemiological surveillance of iodine deficiency in Romania by urinary iodine determinations in children aged 6-16 years from 30 counties.

Epidemiologic studies on school-children aged 6-16 years along 1978-1980 and in 1986, according to the WHO classification revealed the persistence of endemic goiter even in high incidence in some areas. Following UNICEF WHO recommendations, a new epidemiologic study was initiated in 30 counties for assessing urinary iodine through the spot urine sample method, which has widely been accepted as a satisfactory index of iodine intake. The urine samples were collected from lots of 100-200 children aged 6-16 years within each district. The results showed low iodine values, i.e., 2.4-5.5 micrograms/dl urine in 12 areas and 6-12.1 microgram/dl urine in the rest of the country. Comparison of the data on goiter endemic and iodine values in various counties shows lack of correlation in some areas. This prompted an extension of the study of urinary iodine over to larger groups of children in some counties.