Nervous endemic cretinism in Eastern Nepal

Abstract

31 children and adolescents from the mountainous region of Eastern Nepal were examined in order to outline the clinical pattern of cretinism found there. They correspond to the description of nervous endemic cretinism found elsewhere: psychomotor retardation, deafness, and a variable degree of spastic diplegia. There was no clinical evidence of hypothyroidism. The disorder appears to be related to gestational iodine deficiency and it is suggested that injections of iodinated poppyseed oil ("Lipiodol") would be the most suitable form of prophylaxis.