Congenital hypothyroidism (CHT) affects 1 in 4000 babies in the UK. Babies with CHT produce insufficient thyroxine hormone. Untreated babies fail to grow and will have physical and mental disability.
Screen positive babies will be seen by a specialist and treatment with thyroxine started by 21 days of age.
During organ development in utero the thyroid gland moves from the base of the tongue to its normal position in the neck. Ninety percent of cases of CHT occur by chance.
In these babies the thyroid gland has either failed to develop or has not migrated normally. The chance of this recurring in future pregnancies is LOW.
For the 10% in whom the condition is inherited, the thyroid gland is in the right place, but cannot produce thyroxine. This means that in future pregnancies there is a greater risk of another baby with the condition.
Thus in babies with confirmed CHT, a scan of the neck using intra venous markers will be done to assess the position of the gland and thus the likelihood of the condition being inherited.
Congenital Hypothyroidism links
GOSH Information Sheet on Congenital Hypothyroidism
‘CHT is suspected’ (pdf leaflet for parents)
