Screening for congenital hypothyroidism using cord blood TSH in resource limited settings- an Observational Retrospective Study

Karthik Raj T; Jenish Rajma; Anu Tresa

Volume : X, Issue : VIII, August - 2020

Screening for congenital hypothyroidism using cord blood TSH in resource limited settings- an Observational Retrospective Study

Karthik Raj T, Jenish Rajma, Anu Tresa

Abstract :

Newborn screening for multiple metabolic and genetic disorders are available worldwide but they are not routinely done in many developing countries. Newborn thyroid screening can be done either with cord blood or heel prick tests in the neonate. Out of the 2,280 babies who were screened using cord blood TSH, 50 babies had abnormal values (TSH more than 20) and on evaluating the babies further, 6 of them required treatment with thyroxine from the neonatal period, Early initiation of thyroxine is essential to prevent long term morbidity in future. Cord blood TSH is a convenient, cost effective method to identify an easily treatable cause for developmental delay and intellectual disability in children. This signifies the importance of decision to be taken by the government to include cord blood TSH as a universal screening in all hospital delivered babies of developing countries.