children s health issues
Newborn Screening Tests
Introduction
Screening tests are done to detect health conditions that are not yet causing symptoms. Many serious disorders that are not apparent at birth can be detected by various screening tests. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment can reduce or prevent many disorders that may interfere with an infant's healthy development. In the United States, some tests are done routinely and some are required by the state. When screening tests are positive, further testing is often done. Typical screening tests include Blood tests Tests of oxygen level Hearing tests All newborns are evaluated for Jaundice in the Newborn (a yellow color of the skin caused by elevated levels of bilirubin in the blood) by looking at the skin and whites of the eyes, using a skin sensor, doing a blood test, or a combination. Many government organizations require a number of blood tests in newborns to detect certain Overview of Hereditary Metabolic Disorders that are treatable. Common tests include those for Doctors place an oxygen sensor (pulse oximetry) on the newborn's right hand and right foot to measure oxygen levels. Low oxygen levels or significant differences between the hand and foot suggest the possibility of Overview of Heart Defects . Hearing tests are done to detect Hearing Impairment in Children , which may accompany certain birth defects or infections. Doctors use a handheld device that produces soft clicks and measures the echoes off the newborn's eardrum (called 