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Health & Wellness
NEWBORN SCREENINGS
These Tests Could Save Your Baby's Life
By: Dr. Bhumi Upadhyay, Northeast Pediatrics
Most newborns are born healthy and go home with no problems.
However, there are rare diseases that occur that do not show up at
birth but can cause severe health problems, mental retardation,
physical disabilities, and even death later. Early detection,
diagnosis and treatment of these metabolic, genetic or infectious
diseases can decrease significant disabilities or death.
How do we diagnose these diseases before it is too late? Screening
tests are tests that are scientifically chosen for those diseases
that can be tested, and if tested and treated will make a
difference in prognosis. Therefore, we have the Newborn Screen
that every state requires of all newborns. However, not every
state tests for the same diseases. Newborn screening is capable of
testing over 50 diseases. However, many states do not include all
the tests, and most have only gone up to 25 diseases just in the
past 2 years. Florida currently is testing for 35 diseases.
Every baby born in the hospital in Florida will get pricked in the
heel in the first 48 hours before leaving the hospital. Most of us
know it as the “PKU.” However, PKU is only one of the diseases
tested. The full screen is called the newborn metabolic screen.
How do you know the results? The state will send you a letter if
any abnormalities. Your pediatrician will also get results. Most
pediatricians will request results from the state if nothing was
sent to them by 2 weeks. If the screen is abnormal, there will be
either retesting or other further tests.
An additional screening done in many states is the hearing screen.
Early screen has made a tremendous difference in catching hearing
loss sooner and helping those children so further speech and
developmental issues do not occur. Again, every child born in the
hospital in Florida will not leave without the hearing screen.
Some commonly known diseases that are screened include sickle
cell, hypothyroidism, PKU. These are all diseases that do not have
cures, but preventative measures can be taken to improve quality
and longevity of life. Remember, even in our state, there are
still some diseases for which our newborns do not get screened.
There are private companies that will do the additional testing to
include over 50 diseases. You can contact them prior to the
delivery of your baby, and they will set up a kit to do the
extended testing. If your child is older and did not get the
testing, you can still order the test. Some of the companies
include Pediatrix, Mayo Clinic, Baylor Medical Center. Many
private doctors are not even aware of these extended testing, so
please educate everyone you know about the additional testing that
can be done.
Remember, prevention is an important factor to a healthy life.
Dr. Bhumi Upadhyay, a Board Certified Pediatrician and active
member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, graduated from the
University of Miami six year Honors Program in Medicine. If you
have questions about this article or your child email Dr. Bhumi at
drbhumi@northeastkids.com. We are accepting new patients please
call to get to know the doctor 526-PEDS |