PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Al-Maghamsi, Mohammad S.
AU  - Al-Hawsawi, Zakaria M.
AU  - Ghulam, Ghulam N.
AU  - Okasha, Ahmad M.
TI  - Screening for congenital hypothyroidism in North-West region of Saudi Arabia
DP  - 2002 Dec 01
TA  - Saudi Medical Journal
PG  - 1518--1521
VI  - 23
IP  - 12
4099  - http://smj.org.sa/content/23/12/1518.short
4100  - http://smj.org.sa/content/23/12/1518.full
SO  - Saudi Med J2002 Dec 01; 23
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to demonstrate the prevalence of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) in Madina Al-Munawara region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and to compare the results with other reported studies.METHODS: All deliveries conducted at the Ministry of Health Hospitals, Health Centers and Private Hospitals in Madina Al-Munawara region, KSA during the period from 1989 to 1999 were included in this study. Cord blood samples for thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) measurement was used for screening.RESULTS: Out of 200,040 deliveries 193,613 infants were screened for CH during the study period. Forty-six infants had hypothyroidism with an overall prevalence of 1:4208 live births. Thirty-three (72%) of the diagnosed infants were Saudi and 13 (28%) were not Saudi. The male to female ratio was 1:3. The mean age at the start of treatment was 9 days.CONCLUSION: The screening program based on the initial measurement of TSH in cord blood is detected by nearly 97% of the total infants born in Madina region over 10 years. The overall prevalence of CH was 1:4208 lower than other local studies. Mental retardation can be prevented by neonatal screening program; however, Neonatologists and Pediatricians should remain vigilant in searching for signs and symptoms of CH.