lunes, 6 de enero de 2014

Lifesaving Tests for Newborns | Medical News and Health Information

Lifesaving Tests for Newborns | Medical News and Health Information
The American Academy of Pediatrics recently called for a more standardized newborn screening program. To find out what newborn illnesses your state screens for, go towww.babysfirsttest.org.

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Lifesaving Tests for Newborns -- Research Summary


HOW DO STATES DECIDE ON TESTS:   Newborn screening is the practice of testing every newborn for harmful or potentially fatal disorders that are not otherwise apparent at birth. Usually, state decisions about what to screen for have been used on weighing the costs against the benefits.  “Cost” considerations include: the risk of false positive results, the availability of treatments proven to help the condition, and financial costs.  States often face conflicting priorities when deciding budgets.  For example, a state may face a choice between expanding newborn screening and ensuring that all expectant mothers get proper prenatal care.  (Source:www.seattlechildrens.org)
TESTS:  Newborn screening varies by state and is subject to change, especially because of advancements in technology.  Congenital Hypothyroidism is the most commonly identified disorder in routine screening. Babies who have this don’t have enough thyroid hormone and develop retarded growth and brain development. If the disorder is detected early, a baby can be treated with oral doses of thyroid hormone to permit normal development.  Other diseases commonly tested for include:
  • Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) –CHD is the most common birth defect.  Infants with CHD have abnormal structure to their heart which creates unusual blood flow patterns.  Pulse oximetry, or “pulse ox,” is a simple test that is used to measure the percent oxygen saturation of hemoglobin in the arterial blood and the pulse rate.
  • Sickle Cell Disease—This is an inherited blood disease in which red blood cells stretch into abnormal “sickle” shapes and can cause episodes of pain, damage to vital organs like the lungs and kidneys.  Studies show that newborn screening can alert doctors to begin antibiotic treatment before infections occur and to monitor symptoms. The screening test can also detect other disorders affecting hemoglobin (the oxygen-carrying substance in the blood).
  • Hearing Screening—Most, but not all states require newborns’ hearing to be screened before they are discharged from the hospital.  If the baby isn’t screened at birth, then it’s important to do so within their first three weeks.  Children develop critical speaking and language skills in the first few years of life, and if a hearing loss is caught early, doctors can treat it so that it doesn't interfere with that development.
  • Cystic Fibrosis—Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disorder expressed in the various organs that causes cells to release a thick mucus, which could lead to many other problems like poor growth and chronic respiratory disease.  Detecting the disease early may help doctors reduce the lung and nutritional problems associated with cystic fibrosis, but the real impact of newborn screening is yet to be determined.
  • Toxoplasmosis—This is a parasitic infection that can be transmitted through the mother’s placenta to an unborn child.  The benefit of early detection and treatment is uncertain.    (Sources: www.seattlechildrens.org andhttp://www.childrensnational.org/pulseox/faq.aspx)

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