The term Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) was coined in 1983 to underscore the wide range of serious adverse effects of iodine deficiency. The most well known effects of IDD are visible goitre and cretinism, a condition characterized by severe brain damage occurring in very early life. Of greater significance are the more subtle degrees of mental impairment, which occur in apparently normal children in iodine-deficient areas. The consequences are pervasive and include poor school performance, reduced intellectual ability and impaired work capacity. The main strategy for the control of IDD is universal salt iodization, which is ensuring of iodization of salt for all human and animal consumption. A summary of the iodine deficiency disorders situation in the region is available.
Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) affects more than 3.5 billion people in the developing world, stealing vitality from the young and the old and impairing the cognitive development of children. Iron deficiency has a massive, but until recently almost totally unrecognised, economic cost. It adds also to the burden on health systems, affects learning and school performance, and reduces adult productivity. The World Bank, WHO and Harvard University have described iron deficiency as having a higher overall cost than any other disease except tuberculosis. The consequences of iron deficiency, and especially iron deficiency anaemia are many. For infant and children they include impaired motor development and coordination, impaired language development and scholastic achievement, psychological and behavioural effects (inattention, fatigue, etc) and decreased physical activity. In adults of both sexes iron deficiency anaemia causes decreased physical work and earning capacity and decreased resistance to fatigue. In pregnant women the effects of iron deficiency anaemia include increased maternal morbidity and mortality, increased foetal morbidity and mortality and increased risk of low birth weight. The prevention and treatment of anaemia is based in three strategies: dietary improvement, fortification of staples (like what) and condiments (like soy sauce and fish sauce) with iron, and supplementation. A summary of iron deficiency anaemia situation in the region is available.
Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) has been recognized for decades as the leading cause of preventable childhood blindness in developing countries. In addition, in children with vitamin A deficiency, the risk of dying from diarrhoea, measles, and malaria is increased by 20-24%. VAD in children also leads to poor growth. VAD in women may increase the risk of ill health and dying during pregnancy and the early postpartum period, and in severe cases may increase the risk of infant death in the first few months of life. Lactating women with VAD produce breast milk that has a low concentration of vitamin A, which is one of the major causes of VAD in young children. Vitamin A deficiency is mainly caused by inadequate intake of vitamin A and pro-vitamin A through the diet, however, frequent episodes of infections (like respiratory tract infections, tuberculosis), diarrhoea and worm infections increase the demand for vitamin A and contribute to vitamin A deficiency, especially when the intake of vitamin A is already insufficient. In addition, measles has a precipatory effect on the accelerated use of vitamin A and therefore increase the risk of vitamin A deficiency and associated blindness. Women have higher requirements of vitamin A than men due to pregnancies and breastfeeding. The prevention and treatment of vitamin A deficiency is based on a combination of measures which include dietary improvement, fortification (e.g. of oil and fats) and supplementation, especially for young children and lactating women. A summary of the vitamin A deficiency situation in the region is available.