3 types of diseases are screened for newborns by blood test

The article is expertly consulted by MSc Nguyen Cong Canh, Head of Pediatrics - Neonatology Department, Vinmec Danang International General Hospital.

Newborn screening is a routine testing program for newborn babies to detect endocrine diseases and metabolic disorders that affect their health, physical and mental development. Here are 3 types of diseases that are screened for newborns with blood tests.

Endocrine diseases and metabolic disorders affect children's health, physical and mental development. These diseases are often difficult to detect clinically at birth, some diseases can only be recovered and developed when detected within the first 2 weeks after birth, so it is necessary to perform early screening for children. .
Newborns from 2-7 days old are subject to newborn screening tests. Ideally, the test should take place when the baby is 48 hours after birth to get the results soon and help protect the baby most effectively. If the mother gives birth at a facility that is not qualified to conduct this test, she can ask the medical staff to take a heel blood sample and send it to hospitals with newborn screening services for testing. .

Currently, most major hospitals in Vietnam can conduct screening for 3 diseases: congenital hypothyroidism, congenital G6PD deficiency and congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
2.1 G6PD Deficiency G6PD Deficiency G6PD Deficiency is a disease in which your child's body cannot synthesize G6PD as normal children. The enzyme G6PD is located in red blood cells. In the absence of enzymes, cells do not convert harmful products into harmless products, so harmful products will accumulate in red blood cells, making red blood cells fragile. Early detection of the disease, counseling to avoid drug use, and monitoring of neonatal jaundice will help children with G6PD deficiency to limit acute hemolysis leading to anemia and jaundice.
See more: What is G6PD deficiency? Is it dangerous?

2.2 Congenital Hypothyroidism Congenital hypothyroidism is a condition in which a child's thyroid gland does not produce or produces less thyroid hormone than normal. Thyroid hormone is essential for brain and body development from birth to adulthood. If thyroid hormone is deficient, brain and body growth retard leads to mental and physical retardation in children. Early detection of the disease and adequate treatment of thyroid hormone within the first 2 weeks after birth will help the baby develop normally.
Do children with congenital hypothyroidism develop normally?
2.3 Congenital adrenal hyperplasia Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is a neonatal endocrine disorder that presents with different manifestations: fatal salt loss and dream gender profile in girls. The early detection of the disease helps to treat the baby in time to avoid death, and to minimize the virilization of the external genitalia that causes gender confusion in girls. Girls who receive early treatment are less likely to be psychologically affected and less likely to need an external genital reconstruction when they grow up .
Newborn screening is a routine testing program for newborn babies to detect endocrine diseases and metabolic disorders that affect their health, physical and mental development. The best time to have blood drawn for a newborn screening test is between 3 and 7 days old.
To ensure a healthy fetus throughout pregnancy and until birth will be examined, a full newborn screening test helps to assess the health of the baby and parents feel secure during the process. childcare. The maternity care package at Vinmec International General Hospital provides pregnant women with the process of examining and monitoring the health of both mother and fetus before - during - after birth, including full benefits of visiting examine and check the health of the mother during pregnancy and the baby immediately after birth will be injected with vitamin K, perform newborn screening tests, and assess the baby's health status. Along with that, 1 month after birth, mother and baby will be re-examined with a leading obstetrician and pediatrician.
In particular, before conducting newborn screening, the family will be consulted for understanding and consent to participate. If the newborn screening results are high-risk, the doctor will provide full instructions, meet face-to-face counseling, discuss interim measures while waiting for the results of the diagnosis. In some special cases, Vinmec will coordinate with a number of large centers in Vietnam to get the most accurate diagnosis results for children.
Some diseases detected after newborn screening will have to be monitored for a lifetime, Vinmec will be the place to support parents in monitoring their baby's every step in the development and maturation process. Therefore, parents can be completely assured when choosing Vinmec as a place to welcome and take care of their baby comprehensively.