Congenital hypothyroidism in Kuwait.

Abstract

During a 7-year period (1981-1987), 25 children with congenital hypothyroidism were diagnosed in a regional hospital in Kuwait. The calculated incidence was 1:3476 live births. The diagnosis relied on clinical manifestation and confirmed by thyroid function tests. The age at diagnosis ranged between 3 weeks and 7 years with a mean of 18.5 months. Seven patients (28 per cent) were diagnosed in the first months, six in the following 5 months (24 per cent), and 12 diagnosed after the age of 6 months (48 per cent). Thyroid scan (TC-99M) was performed for 13 patients, four had thyroid aplasia, three had ectopia, and six had thyroid in normal position. In 1986-1987, two patients were detected by neonatal screening. Mental development was the best in the children who received thyroid hormone replacement in the first 6 months of life. Until a neonatal screening programme is widely available in developing countries, increased clinical awareness will remain the main way for the detection of congenital hypothyroidism.