Govt should make screening mandatory to detect congenital hypothyroidism: Healthcare experts

Healthcare experts in Hyderabad advocated the government should make screening mandatory to detect congenital hypothyroidism in infants and pregnant women. As in USA and Australia, the state and Central governments in India should also make it mandatory for infants and pregnant women to undergo thyroid test to detect congenital hypothyroidism at the early stage, opined healthcare experts in Hyderabad. At an awareness programme held in Hyderabad, healthcare experts felt that the state and central governments should make it mandatory for all the pregnant women and infant babies to undergo thyroid test, as lack of thyroxin hormone is considered to be the main reason for retarded growth and congenital heart problems in children. Congenital hypothyroidism is a condition in new born babies that is caused due to the deficiency of thyroid hormones. In new born babies, thyroid hormones are extremely important for development of brain, internal organs, bones and overall growth in children. “Healthcare departments in USA and Australia have made screening mandatory for pregnant women and infant babies. In India for every 1200 births one baby is detected to have congenital hypothyroidism defect, because of which many children in rural areas are suffering with retarded growth and other bodily defects. As the state and central governments are spending crores of rupees for the women and children welfare, they should also come forward to make it mandatory to have thyroid test for all newborn children up age of 0-3 years. Detecting thyroid defects early will enable effective treatment and it will help in proper growth of children,” said Dr. Rakesh from Mediciti Hospital. Awareness about congenital hypothyroidism is totally lacking among the common public. Even doctors and healthcare providers in the rural areas are caught unaware of this disorder. As this is a hyper critical public health issue, it is important to create public awareness and the government should come forward to make congenital hypothyroidism screening mandatory, opined Dr. Nagesh from Care Hospital. When diagnosed early and treated adequately, children born with congenital hypothyroidism can experience normal physical growth and neurological development. It is a simple test available in many hospitals and laboratories across India costing Rs. 400 to 500. The healthcare experts opined that this disorder is not hereditary and can cause due to various factors like genetic disorder, pollution and excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides etc. Marriages with close blood relations are also considered as the major reason for this condition. Thyroid hormone replacement and prescribing levothyroxine oral tablets are the major treatment methods to deal with the congenital hypothyroidism condition.  Source:Pharmabiz