A blood specimen for neonatal thyroid screening is obtained on –
Correct Answer: Cord blood
Description: Neonatal thyroid screening: Guidelines by Indian Academy of Pediatrics
Screening should ideally be done for all newborns: because there are generally not signs or symptoms of hypothyroidism at birth.
Use cord blood, or wait for 5-7 days for sampling: results are difficult to interpret in between.
Test for T4 and TSH : insist on an early report (within 2-3 days). level of TSH upto 10 piu/ml is considered normal upto 8-10 weeks of age.
If abnormal, repeat to confirm diagnosis.
If conveniently possible WITHOUT DELAY, do thyroid scan before starting treatment.
Explain the problem, and the consequences of not treating, in detail to parents to ensure compliance.
Begin treatment with thyroxin (not thyroid extract) as early as possible: dose 10-12 mg/kg/day as single daily dose.
Monitor with TSH levels : at age of 2 weeks, then every 2 months for the first year of life, and then every 3-6 months till puberty is completed.
Soon after beginning therapy, monitor T4 also for rapid assessment of the adequacy of dose. After the first year, in a good laboratory, T4 assessment, alone should be adequate for monitoring.
Review at age of 2-3 years to reconfirm diagnosis. Thyroxine should be stopped for 6-8 weeks and T4, TSH repeated. Thyroid scan should be done at this time if not done before starting treatment
Category:
Pediatrics
Get More
Subject Mock Tests
Practice with over 200,000 questions from various medical subjects and improve your knowledge.
Attempt a mock test nowMock Exam
Take an exam with 100 random questions selected from all subjects to test your knowledge.
Coming SoonGet More
Subject Mock Tests
Try practicing mock tests with over 200,000 questions from various medical subjects.
Attempt a mock test now