Congenital hypothyroidism, that is, insufficiency of thyroid hormone, affects the brain development of the newborn baby negatively and causes mental retardation. Early diagnosis and treatment of this disease is very important.
What is Congenital Hypothyroidism?
The thyroid gland is a gland in the lower part of the neck that secretes thyroid hormones. When the thyroid is of normal size, it cannot be seen or felt. It is palpable when grown and becomes visible when the head is in the normal state or thrown back.
The function of the gland in the body is to make thyroid hormones and secrete them into the blood. Thyroid hormones are secreted from the thyroid and stimulated by the hormone secreted from the pituitary called TSH. TSH stimulates the thyroid gland to secrete thyroid hormones, namely T3 and T4.
Thyroid hormones regulate body metabolism with growth and development, oxygen use and heat generation, neural functions, use of sugar, fat and proteins. Thyroid hormone deficiency results in both slow growth and underdevelopment of intelligence in newborns.
Hypothyroidism screening test is applied to newborn babies by the Ministry of Health in our country. The Department of Pediatric Endocrinology plans the further diagnosis and treatment in babies with suspected disease during screening.
What are the Causes of Congenital Hypothyroidism?
If the thyroid gland never formed or developed in a small size while in the mother's womb, hypothyroidism develops in the baby. In some, the enzymes responsible for the production of thyroid hormone are not working. A large proportion of brain development in children occurs in the first three years. Especially the first 6 months are very important. For the healthy development of brain nerve cells, thyroid hormones must be at a sufficient level as they regulate many metabolic events in the body. In the presence of hypothyroidism in the baby, the development of brain cells is impaired and permanent mental retardation occurs.
The treatment of hypothyroidism is simple and inexpensive.
If treatment is started within the weeks following the birth, the baby's intelligence level reaches the normal level. 5 points in intelligence score for each 1-month delay in treatment.
What are the Symptoms of Congenital Hypothyroidism?
The most important symptom is prolonged jaundice. Neonatal jaundice, which is considered physiological in newborns and decreases after one week, lasts for a long time in these babies. >
How to Treat Congenital Hypothyroidism?
Thyroid hormone, which the baby's thyroid gland cannot produce, is given orally to the baby once a day.
Thyroid medication given under the control of a doctor can be reduced and discontinued over time in temporary hypothyroidism seen in advanced ages. However, if the person has permanent hypothyroidism, the treatment should continue for life.
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