‘Screening of newborn helps flag diseases the child may be prone to’

LUCKNOW: Newborn screening has not been a priority among Indian parents, but if it is done, it can help detect diseases which the child may be susceptible to later in life, said doctors.

“It is stated that every 64th newborn inherits a genetic disease from the family. An early diagnostic test (via blood or urine) performed within 72 hours of a child’s birth, can help identify the causes and detect the possible higher risk of developing disorders among infants such as permanent neurological disorders and physical damage,” Trivitron Healthcare Chairman and MD Dr GSK Velu said on Thursday.

September is considered Newborn Screening Month. He said that there is a need to create awareness about newborn screening and the best way is through government programmes and the only way to achieve it is by making newborn screening a constitutional mandate, for a safer and healthier tomorrow.

“Newborn screening is a preventive step to reduce infant mortality. This is done by identifying genetic disorders that are inherited and also those which are caused by the environment,” said Dr Vinod Jain, senior faculty KGMU and a public health expert.

Infants can be saved from health complications such as mental retardation, severe anemia and lactose intolerance with the help of timely identification and medical intervention.

NEWBORN SCREENING IS A PREVENTIVE STEP TO REDUCE INFANT MORTALITY: EXPERTS