Screening for congenital hypothyroidism in newborns

The article was professionally consulted with Specialist Doctor II Cao Thi Thanh - Pediatrician - Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.

Congenital hypothyroidism is a disease caused by the hormone produced by the thyroid gland not providing enough of the body's needs, leading to many dangerous diseases for children. The thyroid gland uses iodine in food every day to synthesize a hormone called Tyroxin. This hormone plays an extremely important role in the development and maturation of children. In case, the thyroid gland does not work normally or does not produce enough Tyroxin, which will affect the development of the body, especially the brain. This is the reason why it is important to get screened for this disease.

Children with congenital hypothyroidism, at birth, have relatively vague signs of the disease, so it is difficult for parents to recognize. Usually when parents notice clinical signs of the disease, it is already at a late stage because the child's nervous system develops very quickly. Therefore, leading to delayed treatment, children will be delayed in physical and intellectual development compared to their peers.
Some children are hospitalized with the cause of abnormalities in the digestive system such as constipation, diarrhea, jaundice. Some other children come to the doctor when they have gone to school and find mental and physical retardation, slow growth in height, memory loss or another medical condition. Therefore, to minimize the impact of the disease, infants should be diagnosed early with a newborn screening program. Children with congenital hypothyroidism will have a chance to function normally if detected early and treated promptly during the first 2 weeks after birth.

Newborn screening is the earliest method of detecting congenital hypothyroidism: The test is performed as soon as 48 hours after birth. Your baby will have a blood sample taken from the heel or the back of the hand, soaked in blotting paper. This paper sample is sent to a testing center to determine TSH or T4 hormone levels. If the baby's TSH value is high or the T4 value is below the average range, it means that the baby is at high risk for primary congenital hypothyroidism. In this case, the parents will be notified to have the child examined and possibly repeat the venous blood test to confirm the diagnosis. Then, the doctors will advise and refer the family to take the child to an endocrinologist for diagnosis, monitoring and treatment.

Newborn blood tests, possibly maternal blood tests; Neck ultrasound: to determine the presence of thyroid gland and measure thyroid size for the baby; Thyroid scan : this is the method where the newborn will be injected with radioactive material such as Technetium, I123. If the thyroid gland absorbs this substance, it will light up. This method aims to see the thyroid gland location and thyroid shape. From there, the doctor will assess whether the child has a thyroid gland, the thyroid is in the right position or is out of place. This radioactive substance is used in very low doses and is quickly eliminated from the body within a few hours, so there is almost no risk when used. Bone X-ray: This is a method to assess the growth of the baby.

All pregnant women should participate in newborn screening programs at maternity hospitals to detect congenital hypothyroidism in their babies early.
If babies are born in hospitals that do not have a newborn screening program, parents should take their children to a Children's hospital that specializes in pediatric endocrinology for early screening.
Pediatrics department at Vinmec International General Hospital system is a prestigious place, the address to receive and examine many diseases with infants and young children. Currently, the hospital is implementing an expanded newborn screening package. Tests performed in newborns are aimed at early screening for diseases and metabolic disorders in children.
With the most modern equipment system, sterile space, minimizing the impact as well as the risk of disease spread. In addition, the dedication from doctors, nurses with professional experience with pediatric patients, helps to best examine and care for children and is no longer a concern of parents.