Hyderabad: With only a handful of NABH-accredited hospitals and corporate hospitals carrying out screening for the thyroid stimulating hormone, identifying children who are vulnerable to congenital hypothyroidism is a task.
Paediatricians at most small hospitals and nursing homes are not even aware of the problem, as also in district and area hospitals.
Affirming this, Dr S. Krishna, a neonatologist, said, “Many times, parents bring the baby three or four months after birth and it is too late. The development of the brain has already been hampered and there is very little treatment that can be offered.”
Endocrinologists are counselling gynaecologists and paediatricians to have a programme to train paramedical staff to send a blood sample for testing.
Parents must be explained the importance of the test. Expectant mothers can be counselled during the pregnancy check-ups to ask the paediatrician for the test.
