DUBAI// Essential screening for health disorders in newborn children is the best way of helping them enjoy a normal start in life, doctors in Dubai have said.
The child health unit of the Dubai Health Authority’s primary healthcare centre provides crucial neonatal screening services for all newborns to detect certain genetic, endocrine and metabolic disorders.
Screenings are mandatory within 48 hours of birth.
Parents of babies discharged from DHA hospitals before the test can be done are given appointments to visit clinics to have the test administered.
“The newborn test can tell you if your baby has any hereditary or hormonal problems,” Dr Manal Al Taryam, chief executive of Primary Healthcare at DHA, said.
“Most of the diseases we screen for during the first week of birth are treatable if we diagnose early, meaning the child can lead a normal life.
“If it goes undiagnosed, children can have complications such as growth retardation, mental retardation.”
A total of 116,864 babies have been screened since 2003 with doctors notifying parents of any abnormal results within seven days. They are then directed to hospitals for further investigation and confirmation of diagnosis.
Over that period, 101 cases of congenital hypothyroidism have been discovered – a condition found in about 1 in 4,000 newborns that can lead to growth failure and intellectual disability if left undiagnosed.
Doctors also found 17 cases of Phenylketonuria (PKU) a genetic condition that can affect brain function but is also treatable if diagnosed.
In Dubai, in the past 12 years there have been 32 cases of congenital adrenal hyperplasia diagnosed – a condition leading to abnormal growth – and 64 cases of sickle cell disease – a condition that results in poor oxygen delivery and organ damage.
From 2005 to this year, more than 2,081 sickle cell trait cases have been identified, with parents referred for genetic counselling at DHA health centres.
“All these disorders can have serious clinical consequences for the young infant,” said Dr Fatma Al Olama, a DHA child healthcare chief.
“If undiagnosed and untreated, these disorders can cause irreversible mental retardation ranging from mild to severe, physical disability, neurological damage and even fatality.
“Early detection, soon after birth, and an accurate diagnosis are very important for achieving a rapid and favourable outcome.”
In May last year doctors in Abu Dhabi said that adding severe combined immunodeficiency (Scid) to the country’s infant-screening programmes could greatly increase survival rates through early diagnosis and treatment. Babies with Scid have compromised immune systems caused by missing or weak white-blood cells. This leaves them vulnerable to serious and life-threatening infections.
Earlier this year, the need for all newborns to be screened for hearing loss was stressed at a medical conference in Dubai.
Dr Hussain Al Rand, assistant undersecretary for health centres and clinics at the Ministry of Health, said it was very important that testing is done on newborns.
“I have already implemented this testing in hospitals within the Dubai Health Authority,” he said. “At maternity and paediatric departments, it is a compulsory screening.
“Every baby born within the DHA at Latifa Hospital will be tested. Now I have moved to the Ministry of Health. I want this to be taken up by all hospitals.”
In May, it was announced by the Ministry of Health that a programme to screen newborns for hearing disorders was to be launched at all public and private hospitals in all medical districts.
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