Do children with congenital hypothyroidism develop normally?

The article was professionally consulted by Doctor, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Hoan - Head of Pediatric Outpatient Department, Pediatric Center - Vinmec Times City International Hospital.
Associate Professor, People's Doctor Nguyen Thi Hoan is the author of the Newborn Screening Program at Vinmec Times City Hospital

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of the neck. Using iodine from food taken into the body every day to synthesize a hormone called T4 (thyroxine). Congenital hypothyroidism is a condition that occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones (hormones) to meet the body's needs.

1. How dangerous is congenital hypothyroidism? Congenital hypothyroidism (SGBS) is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone needed for brain development and body growth. The global prevalence of the disease is 1 in 4000 live births. The thyroid gland is an endocrine gland, very small in size, shaped like a butterfly in the front of the neck, with the function of absorbing iodine from food sources and synthesizing thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormone plays an important role in life function and normal intellectual and physical development in children. Therefore, if the child lacks thyroid hormone, the child cannot grow, the brain does not develop, the child becomes short and has intellectual disability. When detected and treated within 2 weeks after birth with hormonal drugs, the baby will develop completely normally. The global prevalence of the disease is 1 in 4000 live births.

2. How to detect congenital hypothyroidism?

Medical examination: It is difficult for doctors to detect early through regular examination, because early symptoms of the disease do not appear immediately after birth but often manifest later in breastfeeding or school age. Therefore, if detected when there are symptoms, the disease is often late and treatment is less effective. When the child has intellectual disability and body deformity, the child will become a burden to the family and society. Postpartum screening test: Take heel or venous blood on 1-3 days postpartum for TSH test. If the TSH concentration is elevated > 20 mcg/ml, the hospital will immediately notify the family to take the child for re-examination to determine the SGBS disease.

3. How are children with congenital hypothyroidism treated? Damaged thyroid replacement therapy is by taking synthetic thyroid hormone pills at doses prescribed by a pediatric endocrinologist. The drug is commercially available, tasteless and easy to take. Children take medicine for life and have periodic health check-ups by appointment of Pediatric Endocrinologist Pediatrics at Vinmec International General Hospital system, which is the address for receiving and examining diseases that infants as well as children. easy to get. With modern equipment, sterile space, minimizing the impact as well as the risk of disease spread. Along with that is the dedication from the doctors with professional experience with pediatric patients, making the examination no longer a concern of the parents.
To register for children to visit Vinmec International General Hospital, customers can contact Vinmec Health System nationwide or register online on the website for service.