Mumbai: Newborns To Be Screened For Thyroid

Mumbai, 31st March 2023: It has been observed that the prevalence of thyroid infection is higher in pregnant women, and often there is a possibility of transmission of thyroid infection from the mother to the newborn. If thyroid in newborns is not diagnosed in time, it can affect the baby’s brain. Alternatively, the newborn infant’s growth is more likely to be stunted or slow. Now it has been decided to conduct thyroid checkups of all newborn babies in the state under ‘Mission Thyroid’ so that the future generation should be healthy and capable. The necessary kits for this have been made available in the hospital.

Pregnant women are more prone to thyroid. Often mothers are likely to transmit thyroid infection to newborns. If the thyroid in newborns is not diagnosed in time, problems may arise, such as the baby’s stomach becoming loose, its skin becoming rough, the growth of intelligence stunted, and slow growth. So thyroid diagnosis should be done within four days. If diagnosed after that, it is likely to have more or fewer side effects on the baby. To avoid these side effects, the newborn baby will be tested for thyroid in four days. This examination will be done through the ‘Thyroid Outpatient Department’ started in all medical colleges under ‘Mission Thyroid’ by the state government. The necessary kits for this examination have been made available in all medical colleges, said J. J. Hospital founder Dr Pallavi Saple.

The state government has taken up ‘Mission Thyroid’ from the concept of Medical Education Minister Girish Mahajan to ensure timely thyroid check-ups and proper treatment of women. Awareness will be created among the women of the state under ‘Mission Thyroid’. 2.5 lakh women are suffering from thyroid in the state and many women do not get checked due to a lack of public awareness. A full-time thyroid outpatient department has been started every Thursday in all medical colleges of the state, including hospitals. In this, medical and surgical doctors and nose, ear, nose and throat departments will work together. In this, ultrasonography thyroid gland tests will be done. With this outpatient department, it will be easier to take medication by keeping a record of the patients, said the head of Mission Thyroid Initiative and J. J. Head of Ear, Nose and Throat Department, Dr Srinivas Chavan.

“Thyroid is more common in women. Therefore, there will be an emphasis on creating awareness at the school level so that women know about it. The students of classes IX and X of the school will be guided in this regard. They will be given information about thyroid symptoms and problems. Also, if they are suffering from thyroid problems, they will be treated in the nearest hospital. Women suffer due to a lack of proper information about the thyroid. Therefore, to get an accurate and correct diagnosis of thyroid and to get treatment in time, the outpatient department has been started in the hospital. Treatment, check-ups and medicines will be provided here,” said Dr Pallavi Saple, Director at JJ Hospital Group.