AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY TO ESTIMATE THE PREVALENCE OF CONGENITAL HYPOTHYROIDISM IN NEWBORNS AT A RURAL TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Background:Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is one of the most common preventable causes of intellectual disability and growth failure in children. Most affected newborns are asymptomatic at birth due to transplacental transfer of maternal thyroxine, leading to delayed diagnosis in the absence of screening. Early detection through newborn thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) screening and prompt initiation of levothyroxine therapy can prevent irreversible neurodevelopmental impairment. Data from rural tertiary care settings in India remain limited.