BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — In line with the observance of Newborn Screening (NBS) Month this October and Newborn Screening Awareness Week in its first week, medical experts have reiterated the importance of this simple yet life-saving procedure.
Dr. Mary Erika Orteza of the Department of Pediatrics at Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC), during the Kapihan sa Baguio forum, underscored the significance of Expanded Newborn Screening (ENBS), emphasizing its role in preventing mental retardation and early death among infants.
Newborn screening is a straightforward test designed to detect congenital disorders that are often inherited and can lead to severe developmental issues or premature mortality if left untreated, she explained.
Many babies with congenital disorders appear normal at birth, but ENBS allows us to identify these conditions before symptoms even manifest, enabling timely medical intervention and preventing complications, she added.
“Bakit mahalaga ang ENBS, kasi karamihan sa mga sanggol na may congenital disorders ay mukhang normal pagkapanganak at sa tulong ng ENBS maaaring malaman ang disorder bago pa lumabas iyong mga sintomas and mabibigyan na natin ng karampatang lunas o pamamahalang medical upang maiwasan ang mga kumplikasyon,” Orteza explained.
The procedure is described as simple: a few drops of blood are collected from the baby’s heel (heel prick method) after 24 hours of life, placed on a special filter card, and sent to a newborn screening center. The timing is crucial, for some conditions like Maple Syrup Urine Disease. Management must begin within 4-5 days, otherwise, the outcome can be fatal. Most conditions require treatment before the baby is one week old, Orteza stressed.
A negative result means the baby is free from the screened congenital disorders. A positive result, however, triggers a recall for the parents and the baby for further confirmatory tests and immediate consultation with a doctor.
Confirmed cases are then referred to Newborn Screening Continuity Clinics for monitoring and follow-up care.
Orteza explained the program is mandated by Republic Act 9288, also known as the Newborn Screening Act of 2004, which designates the Department of Health (DOH) as the lead agency for its implementation.
Initially, NBS screened for six disorders including Congenital Hypothyroidism, Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, Galactosemia, Phenylketonuria, Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency (G6PD), and Maple Syrup Urine Disease. These are primarily inborn errors of metabolism caused by enzyme deficiencies.
Today, the Expanded Newborn Screening (ENBS) can detect 29 disorders, grouped into categories such as Hemoglobinopathies, Amino Acid disorders, Organic Acidurias, Fatty Acid Oxidation disorders, Carbohydrate Metabolism disorders, Biotin Metabolism disorders, Cystic Fibrosis, and Endocrine disorders.
Orteza clarified that conditions like Down Syndrome, Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are not among the 29 disorders detected by ENBS.
Newborn screening is now included in the PhilHealth benefit package, making it accessible for all Filipino infants. It is available in hospitals, rural health units, lying-ins and health centers all over the country.
For the continuity clinic for confirmed cases, Orteza said there are currently 33 in the Philippines. In the Cordillera region, the clinic is located at BGHMC’s Outpatient Department, Room 301.
BGHMC has recorded 300 confirmed cases, with congenital hypothyroidism and alpha-thalassemia being the most prevalent, she shared. **JDP/MAWC-PIA-CAR
