Do I need iodine for children?

The effect of iodine on the body of children

One of the main manifestations of severe iodine deficiency is a lesion of the thyroid gland, which is called endemic goiter. This is an increase in body size due to increased work on the synthesis of hormones and insufficient intake of iodine with food. Since iodine cannot be included in the synthesis of hormones, their total amount in the iron and blood plasma decreases, while signals from the pituitary gland that regulates the thyroid gland work (in the form of increased production of tropic hormones, TSH), to increase the volume of the organ. So the body is trying to strengthen the work so that the iron produces hormones more actively, but there is simply nothing to create them from. .

Typically, goiter of endemic origin are of school age children and adolescents, in which hormones are needed in greater quantities in order to meet the needs of the body. In terms of severity, three degrees of goiter are distinguished, from a visually unexpressed disease to a very thickened neck. There may be both nodes and diffuse tissue proliferation. .

With a slight decrease in the level of thyroid hormones due to a deficiency in the iodine diet, there may be mild symptoms and nonspecific manifestations. These include fatigue and malaise, decreased concentration, poor memory, learning and behavior difficulties. Also, as the problems caused by iodine progress, phenomena such as a decrease in physical activity and resistance to physical exertion, frequent and prolonged colds, unpleasant sensations behind the sternum, and swallowing and breathing may form. As the goiter grows, manifestations from the trachea can join and larynx (lump in the throat, tickle, dry coughing, choking). As an extreme variant of the deficiency of this microelement, endemic cretinism can form, which fortunately does not occur today.