A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSISOF TSH RESULTSOF CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE YEARS ANALYSED AT THE NAMIBIA INSTITUTE OF PATHOLOGY, WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA
Abstract
Author(s): Biggar Shanice B, Munyaradzi Mukesi, Sylvester Rodgers Moyo
Thyroid hormones are essential for central nervous system development and growth of the babies. Thyroid disorders can negatively affect the normal metabolic processes within the body and cause perman ent mental retardation in children. Neonatal screening, with thyroid stimulation hormone (TSH) as a screening tool, can give a better understanding of the foetal thyroid function. A retrospective cross sectional study was conducted over a six year period from 2009 to 2014 on TSH records collected on children under the age of five years who had a TSH test done while in the Windhoek Central and Katutura Hospitals, Windhoek, Namibia. A total number of 263 TSH records were included in this study. There were more males (58.2%) than females (38.4%). The prevalence of abnormal TSH was found to be 21.3%, with low TSH values being predominant within the population (20.2%). Males had more abnormal TSH values (40%) than the females (21%). The high prevalence of abnormal TSH is a cause for concern as this may be an indication of thyroid disorders in neonates and children. Early neonatal screening and detection of these thyroid disorders may increase the chance for the child to live a normal and healthy life. Key words: Thyroid; Children; Abnormal; Windhoek; Namibia
