Estimation of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Level in Normal Female School Children in a Semi Urban Indian Town- Kumbakonam Urban Rural Epidemiological Study-KURES-2

Symptoms of thyroid dysfunction are non-specific, yet common and hence screening for abnormalities becomes a necessity. To identify subclinical thyroid dysfunction and offer them the correct medical treatment especially in adolescent female children is an excellent option as a public health prophylactic measure. Hence in this study, we sampled 264 asymptomatic school female children for TSH and found an incidence of 3.4% of high TSH (>5). On the other side, the lower values were found in six (if TSH <0.5) or only two children (if TSH < 0.4). The mean with standard error of TSH values were 2.99 ± 0.567. The fasting status was not complied with, and all were random blood samples. All children with abnormal results were counselled with parents and necessary medical advice given. This prevalence is the lowest among similar studies done in any Asian country which is a new finding in our study. Only one child showed a value of 150 who was given drugs and followed up. We theorize that this lesser incidence may be partly due to the study being done in a delta area of a semiurban town.