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MANDATORY NEWBORN SCREENING ESSENTIAL TO DETECT CONGENITAL HYPOTHYROIDISM
The word‘ congenital’ refers to a condition that occurs at or before birth and‘ hypothyroidism’ in an infant means that the baby is not making enough thyroid hormone to mentally and physically develop normally. In this condition, the thyroid gland found in the neck, is either abnormal in structure, abnormal in chemistry, or is lacking iodine to make thyroid hormone. Lack of thyroid hormone causes many symptoms but is not readily evident at birth and shortly thereafter.
To encourage conversations on the topic, Dr Rajesh Khadgawat, Additional Professor, Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Dr Anju Virmani, Senior Consultant Diabetologist and Endocrinologist, All India Institute of Medical Sciences and Dr Ganesh S Jevalikar, Consultant( Pediatric Endocrinology), Medanta Division of Endocrinology & Diabetes, came together to evaluate associated risks and minimize possible threats for Congenital Hypothyroidism by early intervention.
Most new born babies with Congenital Hypothyroidism appear normal at birth, even if there is complete lack of development of the thyroid gland. This is because a small amount of thyroid hormone( T4) from the mother is transferred to the baby during pregnancy. Around 10 per cent of infants with Congenital Hypothyroidism have other associated abnormalities; most commonly witnessed are cardiac abnormalities followed by abnormalities of the nervous system and eyes.
Left untreated, congenital hypothyroidism causes severe developmental delays among other problems. These babies develop facial features that are described as coarse and often have poor muscle tone in their arms and legs. Once it is diagnosed, treatment is relatively simple and involves giving thyroid hormone in the form of an oral medication and regular blood tests to monitor the level of thyroid hormone in the body. Pediatricians also monitor growth, weight gain, and developmental milestones as they can all be affected.
COCKTAIL OF GENETIC & LIFESTYLE FACTORS PUT YOUNG INDIANS AT RISK
With young Indian adults enjoying the benefits of economic prosperity, changing lifestyle, coupled with genetic pre-disposition, which adversely and somewhat unfairly affects them, an entire generation of India’ s population is facing a clear and present danger, claimed leading doctors at a discussion on October 21, 2016. Over 200 researchers and doctors from all over India are attending the Protect Young India Summit, hosted by the NCD PreDisease Forum in New Delhi.
This burden of premature cardio-metabolic diseases on the productive workforce aged 30 – 60 years is cause of larger social and economic concern, said the experts. Experts believe, that it’ s time we focus and target specifically this at risk population so that people on borderline cases, or pre-disease stage, can take proactive steps before disease sets in, and it becomes a point of no return. The doctors were deliberating on the findings of the ESSENS study, conducted across India to evaluate the efficacy and safety if foodderived bio-actives in lowering the risk factors for heart disease and diabetes.
Diabetes and heart disease present serious health challenges for India. Guidelines governing treatment mandate that prescription drugs usually come into play only after the confirmed diagnosis of the condition( diabetes or high cholesterol). This also implies that for a large section of population that is on the cusp of these conditions, which is known as the pre-disease state, with higher than normal blood sugar and cholesterol levels, there is no preemptive intervention presently possible. Lifestyle modifications are one possible pre-emptive avenue but experience has shown that these often do not have desired impact due to low compliance.
“ We need to focus on delaying the onset of disease in this at risk population using novel lifestyle interventions or interventions through food- derived bioactives in high risk population there by saving huge expenses and complications of disease” said Prof N K Ganguly, former Director-General of Indian Council of Medical Research( ICMR) and Director of the NCD Pre-Disease Forum, India, an affiliate of the Global Forum.
GOVT ' S LATEST SET OF MEDICAL DEVICES RULES FAIL TO IMPRESS INDUSTRY
This time united by cause, the otherwise divided medical device industry, has reacted similarly and negatively on government ' s new set of rules. Perhaps it is for the first time that medical device industry which generally has been fragmented into Indian and foreign firms, seems to be on the same page. Although the basis of opposition is mostly on varying points, yet both the lobbies are fiercely against government’ s latest notification on medical devices.
Interestingly, the outrage is despite the fact that rules also make a distinction between medical devices and drugs and pharmaceuticals, creating separate standards to monitor the two verticals. This has been a long pending demand of the industry but there are no jubilations over it. The Medial Device Rules 2016 suggest categorization of devices into four groups depending on the risks associated with the device. The rules are accompanied by a detailed schedule specifying how hundreds of types of devices being sold in the market would be classified. Those with the least risk such as syringes, wheelchair or walking stick would come under Category A, whereas implantable devices like stents or pacemakers would be considered Category-D instruments.
URGENT NEED FOR ACTION PLAN TO REDUCE DEADLY SALT CONSUMPTION IN INDIA
Researchers at The George Institute for Global Health reviewed data involving 227,000 people across the country and found salt consumption far exceeds the World Health Organisation( WHO) maximum target of just five grams per person each day. With salt being a major contributing factor to high blood pressure- a leading cause of cardiovascular disease( CVD) – the study highlights the need for urgent action in India to reduce salt consumption.
Lead author Claire Johnson, of The George Institute for Global Health, said:“ Over the past 30 years the average Indian diet has been transformed. They are eating less pulses, fruits and vegetables and lots more processed and fast foods."
The George Institute is currently working with Centre for Chronic Disease Control, India,( CCDC) to develop the evidence for a national salt reduction program for India. Professor Vivek Jha, Executive Director of The George Institute for Global
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BioVoiceNews | November 2016