Neonatal Screening for Congenital Hypothyroidism. A Decade's Review, Including South Africa

Since its introduction in 1974, neonatal screening for congenital hypothyroidism has been very extensively conducted world-wide. It is the commonest disorder found in all neonatal screening programmes, occurring in 1:3,000-8,000 births. Laboratory testing for thyroid function within the first 5 days after birth identifies this disorder weeks to months before clinical symptoms become evident and the clinical diagnosis is made. A screening programme in Pretoria (February 1981- October 1986) has identified 11 hypothyroid neonates in some 45,577 infants tested. Internationally, there is now a 10-year experience (and a follow-up for a number of programmes) of neonatal hypothyroidism diagnosed by laboratory screening tests and treated within weeks of birth. There is conclusive evidence that the physical and mental development of these children is within, or approaches to a great degree, normal limits.