IDD Key Messages - Generic
Purpose: To provide communicators with basic facts about IDD and the need for iodized salt, key messages, and supporting information. This information should be supplemented by in-country studies and tailored to the conditions in each country or region.
Iodine is a mineral which is essential for the development and growth of the human body. Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) affect people before they are born and change children's and adult's lives. Iodine deficiency is the most common preventable cause of mental disability in the world.
Goiters are the most obvious sign of IDD. Other serious but less noticeable iodine deficiency disorders are problem pregnancies that result in miscarriages, stillbirths, and low birth weight infants who have lower rates of survival.
Also, children born to iodine deficient mothers are at risk of IDD. These children may have permanent mental and physical retardation before birth, or learning disabilities when they get older. The most serious form of mental retardation from IDD is cretinism. Over 20 million people around the world suffer varying degrees of mental deficiency caused by a lack of iodine and around 6 million persons are cretins.
Remote communities are often the most affected by IDD. Communities with many people with goiters or cretinism have a lowered intellectual development in comparison to communities that do not suffer from iodine deficiency. However, since entire communities can be affected by IDD, distribution of iodine, such as in iodized salt, can be a quick and effective preventive measure.
In some areas, iodine enters the foods people eat from iodine-rich soils. However, as this soil becomes depleted, people need other sources of iodine. The most common iodization program is putting iodine in salt. Iodized salt is inexpensive and most families use salt in their food. In communities where IDD is severe, health programs give people shots of iodized oil. This is good for remote communities where iodized salt is not sold, but is NOT a good long-term solution, as is the use of iodized salt.
IDD still is a global health problem despite the fact that it can so easily be prevented. Many counties around the world are iodizing salt to solve IDD problems. Health professionals, industry, government officials and people like you are working together in order to permanently eliminate IDD around the world.
Key messages
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Iodine deficiency disorders, like goiter, cretinism and mental retardation, are easily prevented.
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Buy and use iodized salt to protect yourself from iodine deficiencies.
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Pregnant women who do not get enough iodine are more likely to have miscarriages or give birth to mentally or physically impaired babies.
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School children in areas with IDD have lower intelligence and more learning disabilities.
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The hidden iodine deficiency affects the social and economic progress of whole regions.
Supporting Information
1. Iodine deficiency disorders, like goiter, cretinism and mental retardation, are easily prevented.
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Use iodized salt in cooking to prevent the tragic effects of iodine deficiency in all family members.
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A goiter is when the thyroid gland in the neck swells. It is painless but is uncomfortable and big. It is usually a sign of severe iodine deficiency.
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Iodine can shrink a small goiter but once a goiter grows, it may require surgery to be removed. It is much easier and cheaper to prevent goiters by using iodized salt.
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Cretinism is the most serious form of mental retardation and causes the child's brain and body to be seriously and permanently stunted. The child will not be able to walk, talk, or think normally.
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The use of iodized salt cannot cure cretinism or mental retardation, only prevent it.
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Even if you don't have IDD, you should still use iodized salt.
2. Buy and use iodized salt to protect yourself from iodine deficiencies.
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Iodized salt is used to prevent iodine related problems. It is not medicine nor a cure for mental retardation or cretinism.
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Iodized salt is safe for everyone, even pregnant women, very young children and ill persons.
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Iodine does not change the taste of salt. It has no odor, color, or taste.
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A person does not need to eat more iodized salt than usual. Consuming large amounts of iodized salt will not make people smarter or grow taller.
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To make sure that your salt is iodized, read the salt package's label.
3. Pregnant women who do not get enough iodine are more likely to have miscarriages or give birth to mentally or physically impaired babies.
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Iodine deficient mothers give birth to iodine deficient babies.
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The only source of iodine for the baby is from the mother.
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Pregnant women who lack enough iodine in their diet are more likely to have miscarriages or stillbirths.
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Lack of iodine can cause life-long brain damage to babies even if they look normal. As they grow, the brain damage will show up as poor school performance and the inability to work well.
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IDD babies may be physically less coordinated than healthy babies.
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In severe cases, the baby might be born with cretinism.
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Babies who are born to iodine deficient mothers do not weigh as much as healthy babies and are more likely to die.
4. School children in areas with IDD are more likely to have lower intelligence and more learning disabilities.
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School children with IDD are not as smart or as quick to learn as healthy children.
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They are less likely to attend school and get a good education.
5. Women and girls who do not have enough iodine in their diet can suffer from serious health problems.
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Iodine deficient women and girls have lower energy rates and can develop goiters around their necks.
6. The hidden iodine deficiency affects the social and economic progress of whole regions.
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Adults who lack iodine in their diet can be tired and weak which decreases their ability to work and provide for family.
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If many people in a region suffer from the lack of iodine, the entire intelligence of the region is lowered affecting economic and social development.
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If you are a woman, you may have an iodine disorder if...
Your child might have an iodine disorder if...
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Claudia Fishman Parvanta, PAMM
