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PubMed2002

Changes in epidemiology of viral hepatitis in Poland at the end of the 20th century.

Viral hepatitis is, apart from influenza, the most often registered infectious disease in the world. The material comprised epidemiological data concerning the number of cases of viral hepatitis registered in Poland in the years 1990-2000. There were analysed the number of cases, incidence, number of deaths and mortality from viral hepatitis of different types in Poland in the years 1990-2000. The incidence rates from all types of viral hepatitis have been increasing in Poland until 1993 and decreased abruptly after 1993, mainly due to the diminution of number of cases of viral hepatitis type A. There was registered a decreasing trend in incidence rates of viral hepatitis type B that was significantly intensified after 1993, i.e. since the year when mass prophylaxis vaccinations have been initiated. Since registration of cases of viral hepatitis type C was started in 1997, the number of analytically confirmed cases of this disease has doubled. Mortality from all types of viral hepatitis has decreased twofold in Poland in the years 1990-2000.

Cause of Death↗
PubMed1991

[Study of the effects of some prophylactic measures and radiological contamination in Poland after the Czernobyl accident; Introduction to the research program MZ-XVII].

An aim of the introduction is to remained the scale of radiological contamination in Poland after the accident in the Czernobyl Power Station, the evaluation of findings which led to prophylactic administration of potassium iodide first in part of Poland and later Country-wide. The introduction gives also the history of Research Programme MZ-XVII and its implementation in several regions of Poland. The main aims of the Programme were: 1. Estimation of radioiodine dose accumulated in thyroids of children, youths and adults who lived in different parts of Poland and evaluation whether these doses could lead to the development of thyroid disorders. 2. Evaluation of thyroid function in those exposed to radioiodine in different trimesters of preneonatal life, who were born euthyroid and who were given potassium iodine in first days of life. 3. Evaluation of efficacy of single dose of potassium iodide and estimation of possible intrathyroid and extrathyroid side-effects after prophylactic iodide administration. The foundations of the Programme and Centers involved in its implementation are also specified.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Evaluation of equivalent body burden in the thyroid for the people of Poland on results of 131I absorption after the disaster in Czernobyl. Determination of thyroid blockade with potassium iodide].

An assessment of effectiveness of the administering of single dose of stable iodine in Poland on the reduction of 131I doses in thyroid has been performed. 5-compartment model of metabolism of iodine developed by Johnson has been used to evaluate predicted levels of stable iodine and 131I content in thyroid and commitment dose equivalent H50 for different doses of stable iodine and various age and sex group population. The measured values of 131I concentration in air and in milk and standard values for milk and food consumption and inhalation rate as well as metabolic parameters were used. Theoretical calculations showed that administering of stable iodine on 1986-04-28, 1986-04-29, 1986-04-30 and 1986-05-01 could have reduced committed dose equivalent H50 form ingestion with inhalation pathway by about 44%, 40%, 26%, 12% respectively. On the basis of measured 131I activity in the thyroid for inhabitants from different districts in Poland (1400 measurement) committed dose equivalents were determined and analysis of radiation hazard from 131I were performed. In the most contaminated regions of Poland average H50 doses for children 1-5 and 5-10 years old are close to 50 mSv (permissible level for population) and maximal doses exceed this limit four times. These maximal doses occurred for about from 5% inhabitants from these area. In the moderate and low contaminated regions of Poland the average doses are fivefold and tenfold less respectively.

Air Pollutants, Radioactive↗
PubMed1991

[Results of studies on the effect of radiologic contamination after the Czernobyl catastrophe and prophylactic iodine on thyroid morphology and function of inhabitants of North-East Poland].

The results of the investigations of radioactive contamination after the Chernobyl catastrophe and subsequent iodine prophylaxis on the thyroid gland function and morphology in Northeast Poland. The aim of the study was to determine whether kalium iodine in one dose during radioactive contamination in Poland limited the radioactive dose in the thyroid gland and if significant disadvantageous side-effects in the intrathyroid and extrathyroid occurred. Additionally during the studies we tried to determine if radioactive iodine contamination which occurred in the region of the Medical Academy in Białystok caused an increase in thyroid disease. It is interesting to note the different results obtained after radioactive contamination with the results from the investigations in this same territory in 1983-1985. In 1983-1985, before the Chernobyl catastrophe, 6,921 persons in Northeast Poland were investigated. In 1986-1988, immediately after the disaster 4,010 persons were investigated. The main study according to grant No MZ-XVII was carried out in three provinces: Białystok, Suwałki and Olsztyn. In this investigation 10,011 persons born before April 26, 1986 and after January 1, 1936 participated, 5,789 townspeople and 4,222 villagers, 3,987 children up to 16 years of age it the time of the disaster 1,973 boys and 2,009 girls; 6,024 adults 2,509 men and 3,516 women were drawn from a register. Committed doses to the thyroid in the investigated region were one of the highest in Poland and depended on age group and were depended on time of prophylaxis non proportional. Iodine prophylaxis was provided mainly with one dose of Lugol solution about 90%, 95% children and 30% adults took iodine. The majority of the population (53.3%-74%) were given iodine in April. From May 1st to 5th 23.0-43.4% received iodine, but after May 5th very few persons. Iodine was well tolerated, but Lugol Solution was better tolerated than other kinds of iodine. Only 241 (4.4%) cases had side effects, mainly vomiting (143), symptoms such as stomach ache, diarrhea, dyspnoe, skinrash etc. in lesser numbers. 12% (29 persons) were seen by a physician. In the investigated population were 200 pregnant women aged 19-40 years of which the majority (177) delivered full term healthy babies. Only 1 interrupted pregnancy and 7 had spontaneous abortion. Changes in the thyroid were noticed by 187 persons (2.3%-11.7%) most of which were enlargement of the thyroid, but only a few were confirmed by a physician. In the studied population from 1989 to 1990 over 30% of the population had struma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

[Pollen monitoring in Poland].

The author presents the history of aerobiological studies in Poland. The first scientist to undertake research regarding this problem in Poland was Mieczysław Obtułowicz. The research on this topic was resumed again in Krakow and Rabka in the 1960s. since 1989, constant measurements of plant pollen and fungal spore concentrations have been conducted by volumetric methods in over ten sites in Poland, in a network created by P. Rapiejko. In 1989 the first pollen report, worked out by the Allergen Research Centre appeared in daily newspapers. Pollen information (current data reports and forecast) is available to the public through radio broadcasts, television and newspapers. Pollen calendar for Poland is presented. Pollen sampling methods employed in these studies are also briefly described.

Humans↗
PubMed2003

[Epidemiologic analysis of infectious diseases identified as occupational diseases in Poland in the years 1998-2002].

BACKGROUND: In spite of some unquestionable positive tendencies observed over the last few years, occupational infectious diseases still pose a serious problem in Poland. During the last thirty years overall as many as 41,000 cases of occupational contagious and invasive diseases were identified. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The analysis covered all cases of occupational diseases, reported by sanitary and hygiene stations on a specially designed form, to the Register of Occupational Diseases in Poland over the years 1998-2002. The analyses were performed by the disease entities, the job name, and activity sections classified according to Polish Classification of the Economy, and also by voivodeships. Crude numbers of the diseases reported and rates are presented. For the calculation of incidence rates, the statistics of the national economy employees provided by the Central Statistical Office was applied. RESULTS: In total, 4153 cases of infectious diseases were reported to the Register in 1998-2002. Viral hepatitis, tuberculosis, brucellosis and Lyme borelliosis covered (94.3%) of all cases. The analyzed diseases were identified mostly in two economic activity sections: Health and Social Works and Agriculture, Forestry and Hunting. About 63% of all cases were recorded in health care personnel, mostly in nurses, 1372 cases (33%), physicians (9.9%), laboratory workers (8.1%), orderlies (6.5%), dentists, dental assistants and dental technicians (1.9%). A substantial number of infections diseases were recorded in forestry workers (16.2), mostly foresters (10.9%). The highest rates of occupational diseases were found in the Podlaskie, Mazowieckie, Wielkopolskie, Pomorskie and Slaskie voivodships. CONCLUSIONS: At present, Lyme borelliosis and viral hepatitis pose the most serious problem of all infectious occupational diseases in Poland. Despite extensive programs of vaccination against viral hepatitis B, implemented since 1989, this pathology has not as yet been fully eradicated. It can be predicted that in the near future, viral hepatitis C and Lyme borelliosis will mostly influence the epidemiology of infectious occupational diseases in Poland. This situation will continue until relevant vaccines are developed and used in high risk occupational groups.

Communicable Diseases↗
PubMed2003

Contribution of epidemiology in Poland for better understanding of the natural history of diseases in gastrointestinal tract.

Descriptive epidemiologic studies on the geographical distribution of gastrointestinal diseases in Poland have been conducted in our country since several decades. One of the first descriptive analyses was cancer study in 1967, where age-standardized mortality rates in various regions of Poland by gender and area of residence (urban/rural) were presented. Since 1970 analytical epidemiologic studies aiming at explaining the natural course of various diseases within gastrointestinal tract started to produce interesting results. The first study in this field was the case-control study on the occurrence of peptic ulcer and tobacco smoking performed in 1974. The study provided one of the first epidemiologic evidence on the harmful effect of tobacco smoking in the etiology or peptic ulcers. Subsequent studies dealt with the importance of dietary habits and life style (tobacco smoking and vodka drinking) in the occurrence of gastric cancer. The studies confirmed previous findings that consumption of raw vegetables and fresh fruit is inversely related to risk for stomach cancer in Poland. In addition the results demonstrated, that dietary practices such as the modality of cooking the food, preparation of food products and storing conditions were connected with stomach cancer risk. These factors have also been found to influence the risk for stomach cancer in Poland. The main message of this latter study was that the family as a whole is affected by many risk factors for stomach cancer and families in which stomach cancer has occurred should be therefore targets for preventive measures. Interestingly, analysis of life style factors such as tobacco smoking or vodka drinking has showed that the risk for cardia cancer increased considerably for smokers of cigarettes without filters and in those who consumed large amounts of vodka. For the non-cardia region a uniform increase of risk could be observed for vodka drinking, regardless of cigarette smoking status. The findings of this study suggested the hypothesis that the effect of tobacco smoking and vodka drinking may be different for cardia cancer compared to the distal cancers. Our clinico-epidemiological study suggest that infection with Helicobacter pylori is not sufficient factor for inducing precancer changes in gastric mucosa. Besides, case-controls studies on dietary habits and physical activity level in the etiology of colorectal cancer are in progress. The preliminary results demonstrated the protective effect of higher physical activity in the occurrence of colorectal cancer after accounting for nutritional habits.

Gastrointestinal Diseases↗
PubMed2004

[Pertussis in Poland in 2002].

Reemergence of pertussis in a form of epidemic was observed in Poland in 1997/1998. It is rather sustained trend of increased incidence and shift in the age of infected. It may be due to the level of immunity decreasing with age, since according to the vaccination calendar in Poland, last pertussis vaccination is given before the age of two. 1788 cases were reported in 2002, a slight drop from the previous year (2411 in 2001) More cases occurred among females (1043 cases, 5.3/100,000) than among males (745 cases, 4.0/100,000) and in urban areas (5.7/100,000) than in the rural ones (3.0/100,000). Big differences in numbers of cases reported between different districts and between urban and rural areas bring strong possibility of insufficient sensitivity of the surveillance in many regions of Poland. It is concluded that increase of pertussis incidence in Poland, brings urgent need of additional vaccination in the age of 6 to secure protection for the older age groups. Additional dose of pertussis vaccine was included in vaccination calendar for 2003.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Molecular epidemiology of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains isolated from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in Poland: a 1-year study.

OBJECTIVE: To characterise drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains isolated in Poland and to estimate the amount of recent transmission in the population. DESIGN: M. tuberculosis strains isolated from 251 patients with resistant pulmonary tuberculosis in Poland in 2000 were analysed by spoligotyping and IS6110 DNA fingerprinting. Part of the strains was also characterised by sequencing of the rpoB, katG and/or the regulatory region of the inhA gene. RESULTS: Using combined spoligotyping/IS6110-RFLP defined clusters, 29% of the strains were clustered, suggesting possible recent transmission. In some cases, transmission links among strains in clusters could be confirmed by epidemiological data and in addition, for most of the strains, by analysis of the mutations associated with resistance to rifampicin and/or isoniazid. Younger age, sex, immigration and history of previous treatment were not associated with clustering, whereas multidrug-resistant disease was more likely to cluster. Strains of the Beijing family could also be found in Poland, although with a much lower frequency than in the neighbouring countries. CONCLUSION: Transmission of drug-resistant M. tuberculosis strains was demonstrated, which might contribute to the emergence of drug-resistant tuberculosis in Poland.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[The occurrence and characterisation of oxy-imino-beta-lactams resistant strains among Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica isolated in Poland].

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) are enzymes manifesting considerable hydrolyzing activity on a wide variety of beta-lactam antibiotics including oxyiminocephalosporins and aztreonam. In the study reported here we investigated the types of ESBL produced by Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica strains isolated from clinical samples in the microbiological laboratories of sanitary-epidemiological units in Poland from 1999 to 2004. Among 239 ampicillin-resistant Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica strains isolated from clinical samples in the microbiological laboratories of sanitary-epidemiological units in Poland, 68 isolates of oximino-beta-lactams resistant of 6 serovars were found. There were 16 epidemiological unrelated strains (6 isolates of S. Enteritidis, 5 isolates of S. Thompson, 3 isolates of S. Typhimurium, one-fold isolate of S. Muenster and S. enterica 1,9,12:-:-) coming from different areas of country and 52 epidemiologically related isolates of S. Oranienburg, coming from a prolonged outbreak in an orphanage in Lódź. All the strains were identified as the ESBLs producers. The molecular analysis revealed that most of them expressed CTX-M-3 ESBL which is widely observed in Poland and additional enzyme TEM-1. All tested isolates of S. Thompson and one of three S. Typhimurium isolates were found to produce SHV-5 ESBL. This is the first report regarding the presence of SHV-5 in the genus Salmonella in Poland.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2005

[Measles in Poland in 2003].

In Poland 48 measles cases were registered in 2003 (0.13 per 100,000 population)--of which 65% were cases imported from Chechnya and Afghanistan. Measles outbreaks occurred in 3 centers for immigrants. In total, 31 cases were reported, of which 96.8% were unvaccinated, and 93.5% were under 15 years of age. Of 17 local cases, 5 (29.4%) cases occurred in unvaccinated persons, 3 (17.6%) in persons vaccinated with one dose and 7 (41.2%) in those vaccinated with two doses of measles vaccine (administered at the age of 13-15 months and 7 years). Among 12 vaccinated cases only one 2-year old child was recently vaccinated. The remaining cases were in the 3-7 and 10-24 age ranges. The most affected were infants (incidence 0.57 per 100,000), 1-year old (0.28) and 2-year old children (incidence 0.27). Cases among adolescents and adults over 15 years of age increased from 23.5% in 2002 to 47.1% in 2003. The increasing age of locally-acquired cases, together with constantly high immunization coverage indicates high effectiveness of vaccinations in Poland. Out of all reported cases 13 (38%) were hospitalized. There were no deaths due to measles in Poland in 2003. Poland participates in the WHO Measles Elimination Strategy. Presently, the most important is the maintenance of a sensitive and timely surveillance of measles and measles-compatible cases, with serologic confirmation of one rash-like illness per 100 000 population. The performance of the surveillance system is insufficient with only 55 measles-compatible cases reported in 2003 (15% of expected reports). Serologic confirmation of cases was also insufficient, with 22 cases (40.0%) confirmed by IgM ELISA test. These results indicate the need to maintain the high immunisation coverage and improve measles surveillance system.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[Congress of scientific and socio-professional milieus from all the lands of partitioned Poland, 1869-1914].

The current paper forms the second part of the article entitled "We are and want to be". On the organization and statistics of congresses of Polish scientific and socio-professional milieus from all the lands of partitioned Poland, 1869-1914", published in the 3-4/2004 issue of "Kwartalnik Historii Nauki i Techniki". The first part of the publication presented the conditions in which congresses and meetings of medical and naturalist milieus from all the lands of partitioned Poland were organized. The second part deals with contacts among the remaining scientific and professional groups. The aim of the study was to show the development of ties between scientific and socio-professional milieus from the different lands of partitioned Poland. It has been ascertained that the congresses became a major and permanent meeting place for scientists and specialists in different fields from all over Poland, as well as a forum for the exchange of professional experiences and the presentation of achievements in the respective domains. This is corroborated by the cyclical nature of the majority of such meetings (apart from physicians and naturalists, regular meetings were held by technicians, lawyers and economists, as well as historians and historians of literature), by the ample participation in such meeting by representatives from all the three partitions and by emigres, and finally also by the subject-matter raised at the meetings.

Congresses as Topic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[An evaluation of the accessibility of early post-stroke comprehensive rehabilitation in Poland].

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: According to the European Stroke Initiative recommendations every stroke patient should undergo rehabilitation; its program should be tailored according to the individual needs of the patient. The aim of our study was to evaluate the accessibility of comprehensive early stroke rehabilitation at neurological departments in Poland. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have sent a questionnaire evaluating neurological and rehabilitation departments in Poland, where stroke patients are treated and undergo early rehabilitation. We divided them into 5 categories -- classes from A to F: class A -- having comprehensive rehabilitation (kinesitherapy minimum 60 minutes/day, speech therapy minimum 30 minutes for 5 days a week and rehabilitation of other cognitive impairments and group kinesitherapy at rehabilitation departments); B -- having the possibility of all types of therapy, but is done less frequently; C -- kinesitherapy and speech therapy; D -- kinesitherapy and cognitive rehabilitation; E -- only kinesitherapy. We also separated neurological departments without trained rehabilitation staff. RESULTS: We obtained responses from 191 of 215 (88.8%) neurological departments. According to criteria: 26 class A, 38 class B, 50 class C, 2 class D, 73 class E, 2 without specialized rehabilitation staff. We received filled questionnaires from 115 of 172 (66.9%) rehabilitation departments. According to criteria: 11 class A, 31 class B, 28 class C, 4 class D and 41 class E. CONCLUSION: Only 14% of all neurological departments and 10% of rehabilitation departments administered comprehensive early stroke rehabilitation in Poland. Improvement of comprehensive rehabilitation accessibility in Poland is necessary for lowering the number of disabled post-stroke patients.

Aphasia↗
PubMed2004

[Occurence of pathogenic genospecies of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Ixodes ricinus ticks collected from north-western Poland].

In order to learn the heterogeneity of the DNA of B. burgdorferi s.l. and the prevalence of co-infections of B. burgdorferi s.l. genospecies in the populations of I. ricinus, collected in north-western Poland, the nested PCR method was applied, a fragment of the fla gene being used as a marker. Basing on the prevalence data of B. burgdorferi s.l. DNA in I. ricinus ticks in 8 sampling sites during 1998-2001, it may be stated that a risk of contracting Lyme disease exists in forested areas of north-western Poland, the highest in relation to B. burgdorferi s.s. (76.3% infected ticks), lower by B. garinii (2% infected ticks), and minimal threat being posed by B. afzelii (0.3%). I. ricinus ticks collected in north-western Poland pose a risk of contracting double infection by B. burgdorferi s.l. genospecies, i.e. B. burgdorferi s.s. with B. garinii, and B. burgdorferi s.s. with B. afzelii. The north-western part of Poland represents an endemic area for B. burgdorferi s.l.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Echinococcus multilocularis in the red fox Vulpes vulpes from the East Carpathian region of Poland and the Slovak Republic.

The occurrence of Echinococcus multilocularis in the Poland-Slovak frontier zone of the East Carpathian region was assessed, for comparison with that in adjacent regions in both countries. A total of 392 red foxes from Poland and 427 red foxes from the Slovak Republic were examined from 2001 to 2004. Significant differences in prevalences were observed in foxes captured from the borderland and adjacent zones in both countries. The mean prevalence of E. multilocularis in the Polish borderland reached 45.7+/-18.6% and in the Slovak border 35.0+/-10.7%. In both countries, the prevalence of E. multilocularis in red foxes from adjacent districts, outside the frontier Carpathian region, was considerably lower (18.9+/-9.2% in Poland and 20.8+/-9.0% in Slovakia). These differences are probably due to geomorphological and ecological factors, which contribute to the survival of the tapeworm eggs and the subsequent spread of infection. The Carpathian regions of northeast Slovakia and southeast Poland are characterized by specific climatic conditions such as low mean annual air temperatures, low temperatures in active soil surfaces, high soil humidities and a high mean annual rainfall.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

[Occupational diseases in Poland in the years 1971--1977].

The authors present results of analysis of occupational diseases morbidity in Poland in the past 7 years. Data included in individual occupational disease card provided information source. The analysis, apart from general coefficients of occupational diseases prevalence involved: age, sex, duration of exposure to occupational hazard inducing a disease, type of the hazard, and distribution of diseases throughout the country according to voivodeships and branches of national economy. From the material presented, the following conclusions may be drawn: 1. Occupational diseases prevalence in Poland in the years 1971--1977 was slightly decreasing. 2. The greatest coefficients of occupational diseases morbidity resulted from: occupational hearing impairments, infectious and invasing diseases, intoxications, pneumoconioses, vibration disease and diseases of skin and mucous membranes. 3. Most occupational diseases found in Poland in the years 1971--1977 resulted from long-lasting occupational exposure to a hazard. 4. The greatest occupational diseases morbidity in Poland in the period concerned, was that of persons aged 40--59.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

[The development of pediatric gynaecology in Poland (author's transl)].

In view of the world-wide tendency to isolate adolescent medicine covering the period of puberty new problems arise for the gynaecologists. Pediatric gynaecology in Poland owes its growth to prof. Rudolf Peter from Prague (Tschechoslovakia), because it was under the guidance of prof. Peter and his followers at the clinic of Prague University that our gynaecologists extended their knowledge of the biological differences of the childhood. Since 1955 a regular gynaecological care for children and adolescence has been developed in Poland on the basis of general health care and MCH service. In Poland there are mainly out-patient departments of pediatric gynaecology, run by the gynaecological Clinics of Medical Academies and Hospitals. At the moment there are 52 pediatric gynaecological units in Poland. In the Medical Academies, Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, research work on the physiology and pathology of puberty in girls is beeing carried out. The Pediatric Gynaecological Section of the National Gynaecological Society has organized two national symposia in 1969 and in 1972, devoted to gynaecological problems and functional disorders occuring during childhood and puberty. The last Symposium was attended by Professor Robert Contamin, the President of International Society of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology. In June 1972 Polish gynaecologists attended the First International Symposium on Pediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology held in France (Bordeaux). The Polish translation of R. Peter and K. Vesely "Kindergyäkologie" was published in 1970. The Gynaecoligical Department of the Medical Academy in Lódź provides a training centre for gynaecologists in child and adolescent gynaecology.

Female↗
PubMed1993

Principles, main goals and methods of the nationwide program: "investigations on iodine deficiency and model of iodine prophylaxis in Poland".

The main reasons to start investigations on IDD in Poland as a nationwide project of the Ministry of Health and Welfare sponsored by the State Committee For Scientific Research and Foundation for Polish Science were: cessation of iodizing of kitchen salt in Poland in 1980, increase of the incidence of goitre in the population and hyperthyrotropinemia in newborns, results of the survey undertaken after Chernobyl disaster indicating an increase of goiter incidence (Nauman et al.) and results of the pilot study (Gutekunst, Gembicki, Kinalska and Rybakowa) indicating an increase of thyroid volume and diminishing of iodine excretion in urine of children in Kraków, Białystok ad Poznań regions. Therefore the main goals of the project were as follows: to evaluate IDD in Poland on the population basis, to map goiter incidence and iodine deficiency in geographic areas, to evaluate a voluntary model of iodine prophylaxis in Poland (20 mg of KI/kg of salt). The investigations were carried out in 19330 children (48.7% of boys and 51.3% for girls) in age group 6-13 years, attending 111 coeducational randomly selected schools from all the country. This number represents 0.35% of children subpopulation in the above age-groups. For practical purposes local coordinating centers at the relevant Departments of Endocrinology and Board of Coordinators were set up. The programme of survey included: filling the questionnaire by children's parents, thyroid palpation and classification according to WHO and ICCIDD criteria, thyroid volume determination by means of ultrasonograph Kontron Sigma 1 L with linear transducer 7.5 MHz, determination of iodine in casual morning urine sample using Sandell and Kalthoff method. Determination of iodine concentration in urine was performed in each case of goiter and in the same number of children without goiter. The results were segregated according to coordinating centers and according to 6 geographical areas of the country. The results were calculated according to the descriptive statistics using Student's test, Chi-square test F-test and Leven's test. The results segregated according to geographic areas were tested by means of analysis of variance using the linear model. The final results of the programme are presented in the next papers.

Adolescent↗