Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Aim: The emerging role of a newborn screening program for congenital hypothyroidism: a prospective study. Material and methods: This Prospective observational study was carried out in the Department of Paediatrics. A total of 100 babies were enrolled, but 80 were an eligible candidate for the study period. The blood sample was taken in a sterile container under aseptic precautions, between 3-5 days of life to minimize the false positive high TSH values due to the physiological neonatal surge that elevates TSH level and causes T4, T3 changes in 1-2 days. In cases with a healthy newborn baby, sampling was done between 3-5 days. Results: A total of 100 babies were enrolled, but 80 were an eligible candidate for the study period. Those, not eligible candidates received a blood transfusion, death within 3 days, left against medical advice (LAMA) or shifted to other hospitals and non consenting of parents for the study. Out of the delivered babies, 55 were born by lower section caesarian section and 25 were vaginally delivered and there were 38 mothers who were hypothyroid and were on medication. Numbers of term deliveries were 64 and preterm deliveries were 16, with 46 (57.50%) males and 34(42.50%) female babies. Of the total eligible neonates, 64 were term babies and 16 were preterm babies with more than 34 weeks. Neonatal thyroid-stimulating hormone was estimated in all 68 neonates out of which 2 cases were positive for CH, 10 cases had initially high values between 10-19 µIU/L which were later on repeat testing after two weeks were found to be in normal limits and rest allcases were normal. Conclusion: Timely diagnosis and treatment of CH are important in order to prevent psychomotor development disability &improve school progress. NBS is the need of the hour for early diagnosis of CH, which is simple, fast as well as cost-effective.