Some Observations on Goiter in Lebanon

The incidence of goiter among children residing in Beirut was found to reach proportions considered to be of public health importance. This incidence was much higher among a group of underprivileged children, mainly orphans. The orphans who spent the summer months outside the institution had less goiter than the permanent residents. The results of various thyroid function tests were similar to those of studies from other endemic regions, mainly a mean protein-bound iodine level within normal limits, a high uptake of I131, a low excretion of I127 in the urine and negative potassium thiocyanate test results. In a double-blind controlled study potassium iodate therapy (8.5 mg. per day for eleven days) was followed by a decrease in the incidence of goiter and in the avidity of the thyroid for iodine. This effect was still apparent after six months. Iodate administered orally could thus be recommended as an effective means for the control of goiter in Lebanon, either in the form of iodized salt or by using a short course of potassium iodate therapy in populations such as school children at intervals of six months.