The appearance of teeth may be delayed. These problems become more severe as the child ages. Growth failure in terms of body length is noted very early. Destruction of the thyroid in the fetus may occur if the mother is treated with radioactive iodine for thyroid cancer while she is pregnant . Radioiodine should be avoided unless the procedure is lifesaving.
Most hospitals now perform a routing screening test on all newborns to detect hypothyroidism.
Early diagnosis is imperative. Most of the effects of hypothyroidism are easily reversible. However, critical development of the nervous system takes place in the first few months after birth. The absence of thyroid hormones may result in irreversible damage to the nervous system with marked mental retardation . Replacement therapy with thyroxine is the standard approach to treatment of hypothyroidism.