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Neonatal hypothyroidism - Prevention

Alternative Names

Cretinism; Congenital hypothyroidism; Hypothyroidism - infants

Prevention:

If a pregnant women takes radioactive iodine for thyroid cancer, the thyroid gland may be destroyed in the developing fetus. Infants whose mothers have taken such medicines should be observed carefully after birth for signs of hypothyroidism.

Most states require a routine screening test to check all newborns for hypothyroidism. See also: Newborn screening tests

  • Reviewed last on: 8/15/2007
  • Alan Greene, MD, FAAP, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital; Chief Medical Officer, A.D.A.M., Inc. Previously reviewed by Robert Hurd, MD, Professor of Endocrinology, Department of Biology, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH, and physician in the Primary Care Clinic, Cincinnati Veterans Administration Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. (7/17/2007)

References

Harris KB, Pass KA. Increase in congenital hypothyroidism in New York State and in the United States. Mol Genet Metab. 2007; 91(3):268-277.