Each year, 33,000 babies born with deadly disorders

Some 33,000 Filipino babies born every year are suffering from life-threatening congenital metabolic disorders, the Department of Health (DOH) reported yesterday.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said, however, that such conditions could easily be detected if the infants were submitted to newborn screening tests as required under Republic Act 9288 or the Newborn Screening Law.

"The newborn screening is a simple procedure to find out if a baby has a medical condition that can result in mental retardation or even death if not treated immediately," Duque said.

The disorders tested during newborn screening are congenital hypothyroidism (CH), Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH), Galactosemia (GAL), Phenylketonuria (PKU) and Glucose-6-Phosphate-Dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency.

CH is a disease caused by the underactivity of the thyroid gland, resulting in underproduction of thyroid hormones essential for normal physical growth and development.

GAL is a hereditary disease that is caused by the lack of a liver enzyme required to digest glactose.

CAH pertains to a set of inherited disorders that occur because of excess production of male hormones while PKU is a hereditary disease caused by the lack of a liver enzyme required to digest phenylalanine.

G6PD is the most common genetic enzyme deficiency that can cause premature destruction of red blood cells (hemolytic anemia) when an affected individual is exposed to certain foods, medications, chemicals or pollen.

Duque said that newborn screening, which costs around P550, was piloted in 24 Metro Manila hospitals in 1996. The law was passed last year.

"The screening is done usually between 24 to 75 hours after birth. Infants with positive results are immediately referred to a specialist for a confirmatory test and medical management.

"We urged all health facilities in the country to provide newborn screening services to all infants. This will be for the protection of our children," he said.