Congenital hypothyroidism
Thyroid dysfunction in newborns and children is an issue we need to be concerned about. The thyroid is a vital organ that controls our metabolism. It secretes thyroid hormones. We conduct blood tests on the umbilical cord of every newborn baby to screen them for congenital hypothyroidism.
Cause
- The first cause: Congenital absence of the thyroid gland, which is of course a very rare condition.
- The thyroid gland is in an abnormal position.
- The thyroid, for unknown reasons, is causingChildren's thyroid dysfunction, cannot produce normal thyroid hormone
Generally, within a day or two of a baby's birth, they will have their thyroid report from their umbilical cord blood checked to confirm if they have this condition.
Symptoms
The main issue is that there are genuinely no symptoms. When they are first born, you cannot see any signs of hypothyroidism. This is why we need to screen the umbilical cord blood of every baby to check if their thyroid function is normal. The incidence rate is actually quite low, occurring in about one in every three thousand babies. However, we still need to pay attention because the thyroid is very important for intelligence development from infancy to childhood, especially during the first two years. If their thyroid is low and we do not provide appropriate treatment, it will affect their intellectual development.
How to diagnose
Sometimes, when parents hear that their baby's thyroid readings are abnormal, they also worry. Usually, if an abnormality is found in the initial umbilical cord blood test, we will re-examine it, because there is a chance that the first test is abnormal, while the re-examination is normal. This is usually due to abnormalities caused by the mother's thyroid influence, which occurs from time to time and is not a true thyroid dysfunction.
Treatment
First, we need to determine if they genuinely have a thyroid issue. If a problem is confirmed, diagnostic tests will be needed. This includes checking the thyroid's position. If the thyroid is in the correct position, but its function is abnormal, we will then implement a thyroid hormone replacement treatment plan.
Generally speaking, the length of treatment depends on whether the thyroid gland is present or if its function has been lost. Therefore, we will continue to follow up with the baby. If the thyroid gland is still not functioning properly as the baby gets older, lifelong thyroid supplementation may be required. The baby's growth and development are actually the same as a normal person's, but long-term follow-up and continuous use of supplements are necessary.
