Clinical features: Diseases of the thyroid gland are manifested by qualitative or quantitative alterations in hormone secretion or enlargement of the thyroid gland or both. Enlargement of the thyroid gland may result in normal increased, or decreased hormone secretion.
Treatment Guidelines
• Iodised salt may not provide sufficient iodine and should therefore not be prescribed alone
• Lugol's solution is too concentrated for daily use, and should be diluted by a factor of 30 to give 4.2 mg/ml (Schiller's iodine).
Treatment |
Age under 45 years |
First choice |
Schiller's iodine 2 drops (460 micrograms) once daily for one year. Response may be obtained within 6 months |
Second choice |
Lugol's solution 3 drops (21 mg) once each month for up to one year. Lugol's solution is stronger then schiller's iodine (see above). |
Third choice |
Patients within this age usually respond poorly to iodine treatment and there is a risk of iodine induced thyrotoxicosis. Iodine therapy is therefore not recommended |
| |
Iodine oil capsules |
Post thyroidectomy
Iodine should be given daily indefinitely to prevent recurrence, following dosing schedule give above
On Iodine use:
• Physiological doses of iodine can be given even in pregnancy. It is actually necessary to provide the therapy to avoid iodine deficiency to the foetus
• Patients should continue taking iodised salt indefinitely (Ref. National Policy on Nutrition) after the completion of treatment or begin giving 1 drop (7 mg) of Lugol's sol. per month.
• All salts in Tanzania should be iodized (Govt.law)
