Newborn screening enables early identification of conditions that might not be immediately apparent but, if left undetected, can have serious, lifelong consequences to a child’s long-term health and well-being.
“Newborn screening can detect conditions that do not show signs or symptoms, but have serious effects on the baby’s health,” said Dr. Timothy Tesmer, chief medical officer at the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Early detection and intervention gives babies and their families the best chance for healthy lives, he said.
Screens for 35 disorders
Nebraska law requires every baby born in the state to receive newborn screening. The screening tests for critical congenital heart disease and 35 disorders recommended by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which can help prevent intellectual disabilities, brain and organ damage, seizures, stroke or other long-term problems, including death. The program is administered by the Division of Public Health which screens, follows up and provides newborn screening awareness and education across Nebraska.
Newborn screening is generally completed within 24 hours of birth by taking a few drops of blood from an infant’s heel. Noninvasive methods are utilized for screening hearing and critical congenital heart diseases, which can identify infants at risk for certain conditions, such as deafness and heart abnormalities that would not be obvious for some time.
Increased life expectancy
Newborn screening allows treatment to be initiated within the first few days and weeks of life, and for some diseases, this intervention means the infants will go on to lead typical, healthy lives. Screening has led to earlier detection of diseases such as sickle cell disease, spinal muscular atrophy, congenital primary hypothyroidism and cystic fibrosis. Many of these conditions once carried a grim prognosis, but now see better managed health outcomes and increased life expectancy due to early intervention. Newborn hearing screening identifies infants who may be deaf or hard of hearing and connects families with support and resources to help the child acquire crucial early language at a developmentally appropriate stage.
For resources or to learn more about newborn screening, visit https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Newborn-Screening.aspx.
DHHS encourages parents to talk to their baby’s healthcare provider about newborn screening tests and ask questions. The DHHS Newborn Screening team can be reached at (402) 471-6558 or dhhs.newbornscreening@nebraska.gov.
