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Thursday, September 23, 2004
31 newborn babies in Bayawan have defects
By Syril G. Repe
BAYAWAN CITY, Negros Oriental - At least 31 newborn babies were found to have defects by health officers at the Bayawan District Hospital.
Hospital district chief Dr. Fidencio Aurelia bared the figure after putting the newborn under the new technology called "New Born Screening".
Of the 313 newborns from January to July of this year, 31 were found to be G6 PD, one of five metabolic disorders known as Glucose-6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase.
Dr. Aurelia explained that if not detected early, it will cause anemia and yellow discoloration of the skin and other health problems among the newborn once they are exposed to drugs, food and chemicals.
"A baby with G6 PD deficiency may develop complications leading to mental retardation," he said.
Aurelia assured families the deficiency and defect can be corrected through medical and nutritional inputs on health defective babies particularly those with metabolic disorders.
The other metabolic disorders are galactosemia, Phenylketonuria, Congenital hypothyroidism and congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
Galactosemia (GAL) is a condition in which babies are unable to process a certain part of the milk called galactose.
Phenylketonuria is a rare condition in which the baby cannot properly use one of the building blocks of protein called phenylalanine. Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) results from lack of thyroid hormones that are essential to the growth of the brain and the body.
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CaH) causes severe salt loss, dehydration and abnormally high level of male sex hormones in both boys and girls.
Dr. Aurelia explained the defects are not that alarming since they can be corrected within a month.
He said putting the babies under "new born screening" carries advantages because defects can be detected early and treatment put in place for their normal growth.
(September 23, 2004 issue)
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