Detection during pregnancy key to treatment prospects,say doctors

“The brain develops by 80-90 per cent in the first two years of the child’s life. A hormonal deficiency would impair mental and physical development. If thyroid anomalies are detected during pregnancies,the treatment can be earlier,” Chadha said.

Thyroid disorders,when undetected and not treated,are known to inhibit full mental and physical development. Symptoms include swelling in neck,weight-related problems,fatigue,mental anxiety,constipation or decreased memory.

Most countries do not make screening of pregnant women compulsory as it is not considered cost-effective. However,newborns are compulsorily screened in European countries and in the US.

Doctors say children should be screened for thyroid-related disorders within the first 14 days. Women face difficulties in conceiving when thyroid dysfunction is found. Deficiencies in pregnant women can affect the growth of the foetus as well. Research conducted in various parts of the country in the early ’70s showed that one in 4,000 children is affected by thyroid disorders. In 2008,when a similar study was conducted out of south India,one in 1,000 live births were found to have thyroid disorders,said Chadha.

“The Indian Thyroid Society is striving to spread awareness for more screening of children and pregnant women. Treatment is available and economical and if detected early,children can be near normal,” said Dr R V Jayakumar,president,Indian Thyroid Society. The more common variety of thyroid disorder is ‘auto-immune’ which is more common in women and where there is a disorder despite adequate presence of iodine in the blood,added Jayakumar.