Abstract

NEONATAL SCREENING FOR CONGENITAL HYPOTHYROIDISM AT BIMS HOSPITAL, BELAGAVI: ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE

Priya Patil, Padmaja Nikam, Nagaraj Hosamani, Shailesh Patil and Shashikant Nikam*

Abstract

Background: Congenital Hypothyroidism (CH) is the most common preventable cause of mental retardation. To prevent the undesired developmental insults, newborn screening is needed which will be helpful to prevent serious disability. Aim of the study is to evaluate the prevalence of congenital hypothyroidism in babies born at BIMS Hospital, Belagavi. Materials and Methods: A total of 3420 term newborn babies were screened for Congenital hypothyroidism by a sample obtained by heel prick for a period of 2 years from May 2017 to May 2019. The 412 newborns with thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) >10 mIU/L were re-examined. On 3rd – 7th day of birth serum TSH and thyroxin (FT4) levels were measured by CLIA method on Diasorin Analyzer from a venous sample. Results and Conclusion: Of 412 recalled subjects, 14 were confirmed to be hypothyroid, showing a prevalence of 4 in 1000 for CH. This is a hospital based small study showing high prevalence. Hence, there is a need of a study on screening program for a larger scale covering all quadrants of India equally.

Keywords: Neonatal screening, congenital hypothyroidism, thyroid stimulating hormone.