For questions 24-26, use the following information. While iodine nutrition has improved worldwide due to the existence of cost-effective prevention measures such as iodization of salt, iodine deficiency remains the leading cause of preventable brain damage in childhood. Urinary iodine is the recommended indicator for evaluating the degree of iodine deficiency, and for monitoring and evaluating its correction. Based on the current recommendations produced by the World Health Organization (VO), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and International Council for Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (ICCIDD), the epidemiologic criteria for assessing iodine nutrition based on median urinary iodine concentrations in school- age children are provided in the table below. Iodine Intake Median Urinary Iodine (gg/L) 20 49 50 99 100 199 200 - 299 2300 Insufficient Insufficient Insufficient Adequate Above requirements Excessive Iodine Nutrition Status Severe iodine deficiency Moderate iodine deficiency Mild iodine deficiency Adequate iodine nutrition (optimal) May pose a slight risk ot more than adequate iodine Intake Risk ot adverse health consequences (iodine-induced hyperthyroidism, autoimmune thyroid disease) The WHO Global Database on Iodine Deficiency was developed to assess the global magnitude of iodine deficiency, to evaluate the strategies for its control and to monitor each country' s progress towards achieving the international community's goal of IDD elimination. The following table provides data collected on school-age children (8-12 years old) in Lesotho in 2002. urinary Iodine (gg/L) 20 - 49 50 - 99 100 - 299 2300 Number ot Children 52 40 104 388 328