Many diseases that can lead to death in childhood can be detected and prevented in advance thanks to the heel blood screening performed on newborn babies. Stating that diseases such as irreversible loss of function and intellectual disability are treated with this screening, Neonatal Responsible Physician Uzm. Dr. Hafiz Mammadov made important warnings to parents.
Heel blood screening for newborn babies has recently become a topic of discussion. Some parents may have hesitations about having their babies screened for heel blood, although it is of great importance for both their babies' health and public health. Cakmak Erdem Hospital Neonatologist Specialist. Dr. Hafız Mammadov gave important information about heel prick screening that will raise awareness of parents.
“Irreversible diseases are detected in advance”
Emphasizing that many genetic, metabolic, neurological, endocrinological and some microbiological diseases can be prevented by early diagnosis thanks to heel blood screening, Specialist Dr. Hafız Mammadov said, “With heel blood, 6 diseases such as Phenylketonuria, Congenital Hypothyroidism, Cystic Fibrosis, Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and Biotinidase Deficiency are screened. Although some newborn babies appear to be born healthy, they may develop clinical findings in the future and many of these clinical findings are irreversible. Such as intellectual disability, loss of visual and hearing functions, irreversible loss of walking and speech. If these diseases are diagnosed early thanks to heel blood, babies can continue their lives as healthy individuals with a simple treatment. Many of the babies born with such diseases and who cannot be treated because they cannot be diagnosed say goodbye to life at an early age.”
“It is a very simple procedure”
Stating that a very simple method is applied for heel blood screening, Specialist. Dr. Mammadov explained the procedure as follows:
“After the baby sucks its mother at least 6-8 times, the first heel blood is taken between the 24th and 72nd hours. Since the inner and outer parts of the heel are slightly bloody, the heel is punctured with a sterile needle tip and blood is taken from there. Tests are performed by impregnating 5-10 drops of blood on a paper called Guthrie paper and included in the Ministry of Health's screening program. The second screening is performed between the 5-15th days of the baby.”
“Even if the baby looks healthy, it shows up after a few years”
Underlining that taking heel blood does not cause any harm to the baby, Specialist. Dr. Hafiz Mammadov said, “Unfortunately, some families' opposition to heel prick blood collection stems from the information pollution circulating on social media and the internet and not reaching the right source of information. As pediatricians, we encounter many children suffering from these diseases. While the child is born healthy, sometimes 2, sometimes 5 years later, hearing, speech, walking and intellectual disabilities and unstoppable epileptic seizures may occur. Many of these diseases can only be prevented at an early age. If the disease is missed, we can only stop the disease with the treatment applied after the clinical symptoms appear. However, many functions are lost and cannot be recovered. A normal child becomes disabled. We can say that not performing the heel prick test is a kind of child abuse,” he said and warned parents.
It is of great importance for children born from consanguineous marriages
Stating that families should not hesitate and should trust scientists, doctors and the Ministry of Health's screening program, Uzm. Dr. Hafiz Mammadov emphasized how important it is to take heel blood to prevent diseases in children, especially as a result of consanguineous marriages.
Cakmak Erdem Hospital Newborn Responsible Physician Specialist. Dr. Mammadov, “consanguineous marriages in Turkey is 25 percent, even more in the eastern provinces. It is especially important to have the test done in such risky areas. Heel blood screening has great benefits for both families and children. Thousands of children are tested every day. There is no harm. Some diseases are detected and children are completely healthy thanks to early diagnosis. As a physician who has seen the severe conditions of diseases when the screening program is not carried out, I can say that it is very important to perform the heel blood test.”
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