The condition known as congenital hypothyroidism is when a baby is born with a thyroid hormone deficiency. This condition is highly treatable, and also very dangerous is left untreated.


As such, it is very important to have all babies checked for congenital hypothyroidism upon birth. This is standard at virtually every hospital in the world now.



A common cause of congenital hypothyroidism is iodine deficiencies, but the condition is still quite a mystery. The causes of congenital hypothyroidism are thought to be genetic by some, and environmental by others. Whatever the cause, the condition is marked by a problem in the thyroid gland itself.


The thyroid can be absent, abnormal, or even just not working correctly in infants. This can be another common cause of congenital hypothyroidism. The development of a healthy thyroid gland is essential to a baby avoiding congenital hypothyroidism. Any defects in the thyroid gland can result in congenital hypothyroidism. The effects of congenital hypothyroidism can be quite alarming. Mental retardation, and slow development can result if left untreated.


Treatment for congenital hypothyroidism is much the same as for adults. The child is given small doses of the thyroid hormone, and then the medicine is adjusted throughout the child’s lifetime. The medicine will increase as the child grows older and the need for more thyroid hormone increases.


The symptoms of congenital hypothyroidism can be tough to recognize as they are often things we see in infants anyway. The most common of these include sleeping to much, constipation, jaundice, and a body temperature that is too low. In a child where the gland was missing at birth, the symptoms may be exaggerated and other symptoms may appear. Some infants are born with a larger than usual tongue if they are completely without the thyroid hormone.


Thankfully, congenital hypothyroidism is a condition that rarely goes untreated. The medicine is very inexpensive, and is widely available to most anyone. The condition is almost always caught at birth nowadays, and it responds well to current treatment techniques.

Tags: Adults, Babies, Body Temperature, Congenital Hypothyroidism, Hypothyroidism, Iodine Deficiencies, Jaundice, Lifetime, Medicine, Mental Retardation, Mystery, Thyroid, Thyroid Gland, Thyroid Hormone Deficiency, Tongue