Knowledge on prevention and treatment of iodine deficiency

Iodine deficiency is a disease caused by too little iodine intake from the outside, resulting in low iodine content in the human body. Iodine deficiency is common throughout the world and causes great harm to the development of mankind as a whole. Iodine deficiency is generally divided into two types. One is the cause of goiter, which is commonly known as goiter, and the other is called cretinism. Humans obtain the iodine they need through food. However, due to the lack of iodine in the soil and water in some environments, the amount of iodine humans take in from food provided by nature can no longer meet the needs of normal body growth, thus leading to iodine deficiency.

Goiter caused by iodine deficiency can be prevented and treated by iodine supplementation. As long as people insist on eating iodized salt, they can prevent the occurrence of goiter. It can also play a good therapeutic role for patients who have already suffered from the disease. As for cretinism, there is currently no good treatment method in the medical community. Cretinism refers to symptoms such as mental retardation, congenital deafness, and deformities caused by long-term iodine deficiency in the fetus from the time the fetus is in the mother's womb until the age of 2.

Once the disease is established, it cannot be reversed. Cretinism causes great harm to patients and their families. Currently, the only way to prevent it is to provide timely iodine supplements to pregnant women and daily iodine supplements to infants aged 0-2 years. Women during pregnancy not only need to maintain their own iodine intake, but also need to provide a source of iodine for the fetus, so pregnant women need a large amount of iodine supplementation. Otherwise, the fetus will not be able to get enough iodine from the mother, causing cretinism.

Since it is difficult to change the amount of iodine naturally contained in the living environment, iodine supplementation can be achieved by eating iodized salt. In recent years, my country has vigorously promoted the consumption of iodized salt. Everyone must buy qualified iodized salt and never try to buy cheap salt, otherwise it will cause irreparable damage to yourself and the next generation. At the same time, we must also master the "degree" of iodine supplementation. Excessive iodine intake can also cause disease.