One in 2,000 is born with hypothyroidism in country

One in every 2,000 children is born with hypothyroidism in Bangladesh—this is double the global average of one in every 4,000 children, according to experts. The experts were speaking at a seminar titled ‘Updates in Nuclear Medicine and Screening of Congenital Hypothyroidism in Newborn Babies’ held in the Lecture Gallery 1 of the Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital on Wednesday evening. The seminar was presided over by Dr Nafisa Jahan, director of the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS).

Dr Moniruzzaman Shahin, acting principal of SBMC, Dr Bakir Husain, director of SBMCH, Dr Ishtiaq Hossain, president of BMA (Barishal), and Dr Muhammad Anowar Ul Azim, among others, addressed the seminar. About 400 physicians and medical technologists from different public and private hospitals and clinics took part in the discussion. The participants said congenital hypothyroidism (CH) was defined as thyroid hormone deficiency present at birth.

If detected within four weeks of birth and treatment begun, the problem could be resolved. Otherwise, it could lead to physical and mental disabilities later. So, currently a project is going on in Bangladesh to identify and prevent CH. Thyroid hormone plays a vital role in the normal development of the central nervous system. Deficiency of the hormone is one of the most common preventable causes of mental retardation.

The clinical manifestations are often subtle or not present at birth. Common symptoms include decreased activity and increased sleep, feeding difficulty, constipation and prolonged jaundice with myxedematous faeces, large fontanels, macroglossia, a distended abdomen with umbilical hernia, and hypotonia.

Hypothyroidism in the newborn phase is almost always overlooked. Delayed diagnosis leads to the most severe outcome including mental retardation.

The experts at the seminar, therefore, emphasised the importance of neonatal screening, which has to be carried out within five days of a child's birth at the latest.  The History of any thyroid disease in the mother and use of anti-thyroid drugs by her during pregnancy must also be recorded for accurate interpretation of laboratory data.

Treatment must start according to the individual merit as per protocol, the experts said.

One in 2,000 is born with hypothyroidism in country

One in every 2,000 children is born with hypothyroidism in Bangladeshthis is double the global average of one in every 4,000 children, according to experts. The experts were speaking at a seminar titled Updates in Nuclear Medicine and Screening of Congenital Hypothyroidism in Newborn Babies held in the Lecture Gallery 1 of the Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital on Wednesday evening. The seminar was presided over by Dr Nafisa Jahan, director of the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS). Dr Moniruzzaman Shahin, acting principal of SBMC, Dr Bakir Husain, director of SBMCH, Dr Ishtiaq Hossain, president of BMA (Barishal), and Dr Muhammad Anowar Ul Azim, among others, addressed the seminar. About 400 physicians and medical technologists from different public and private hospitals and clinics took part in the discussion. The participants said congenital hypothyroidism (CH) was defined as thyroid hormone deficiency present at birth. If detected within four weeks of birth and treatment begun, the problem could be resolved. Otherwise, it could lead to physical and mental disabilities later. So, currently a project is going on in Bangladesh to identify and prevent CH. Thyroid hormone plays a vital role in the normal development of the central nervous system. Deficiency of the hormone is one of the most common preventable causes of mental retardation. The clinical manifestations are often subtle or not present at birth. Common symptoms include decreased activity and increased sleep, feeding difficulty, constipation and prolonged jaundice with myxedematous faeces, large fontanels, macroglossia, a distended abdomen with umbilical hernia, and hypotonia. Hypothyroidism in the newborn phase is almost always overlooked. Delayed diagnosis leads to the most severe outcome including mental retardation. The experts at the seminar, therefore, emphasised the importance of neonatal screening, which has to be carried out within five days of a childs birth at the latest. The History of any thyroid disease in the mother and use of anti-thyroid drugs by her during pregnancy must also be recorded for accurate interpretation of laboratory data. Treatment must start according to the individual merit as per protocol, the experts said.