LUCKNOW: Generally understood as a problem concerning older children and adults, an imbalance in thyroid hormone has now been found to be affecting even newborn babies. A study by the neonatology department of Post Graduate Institute of Child Health (
PGICH
), Noida, conducted on 200 babies who were either preterm or born at nine months but were very sick, has been accepted for publication in the ‘Archives of Endocrinology and Metabolism’ journal.
The babies were so sick that they had to be admitted to the neonatal ICU (NICU).
According to the study, about 10% of the sample neonates had a deficiency of thyroid hormone. This imbalance and deficiency, experts said, adversely impacts the ultimate outcome of the disease for which the babies were admitted to NICU. It can also increase the severity of illness. Furthermore, the study found that some children had congenital deficiency of thyroid which could put them at a risk of developing mental retardation, if not put on thyroid hormone replacement therapy immediately. “Of the 200 babies, 100 were premature births and the remaining 100 were born on full term but were extremely ill. These babies were admitted to our NICU within seven days of birth. As a routine at PGICH, we conduct a thyroid screening test for all admitted babies on the third or fourth day of life. We found that about 10% had thyroid deficiency. These babies were at the risk of developing more severe disease, had more chances of being put on ventilator support or developing mental retardation,” said head of PGICH’s neonatology department Dr
Ruchi Rai
.
Dr Rai
emphasised that while a simple blood test on the third or fourth day of life could pick up thyroid deficiency due to illness contracted after birth, in preterm or sick babies, it might not be enough to diagnose congenital thyroid deficiency.
“A repeat test in the third week of life is necessary. All preterm and sick babies must be evaluated for thyroid hormone status at birth and it should be done again at 14 to 21 days. With early diagnosis, immediate treatment could be started which will help in better results,” said Dr Rai.
“The aim of PGICH is not only to give the best possible treatment to the children but also to conduct good quality research which will be recognised nationally and internationally,” said PGICH director
Prof Ajai Singh
.
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