“Opinion | Congenital Hypothyroidism: India’s Preventable Rare Disease Crisis”, News 18, February 28, 2026
“February is observed globally as Rare Disease Awareness Month, culminating in Rare Disease Day on 28 February. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a disease is classified as rare when it affects fewer than 1 in 10,000 individuals. India does not yet have a uniformly adopted national definition, but the burden is substantial.
The greatest challenge in rare diseases is not treatment; it is early suspicion and diagnosis. Many conditions show no visible signs at birth. By the time symptoms appear, irreversible damage may already have occurred. One such condition is Congenital Hypothyroidism (CH) – a disorder that is entirely treatable if detected early, yet devastating if missed.
What is Congenital Hypothyroidism?
Congenital Hypothyroidism occurs when a newborn is born with an absent, underdeveloped, or poorly functioning thyroid gland. The thyroid produces thyroxine (T4), a hormone essential for brain development, growth, and metabolism. Thyroxine plays a critical role in neuronal migration, myelination, and synapse formation during the first two to three years of life especially in the first few weeks after birth. A deficiency during this narrow window can result in permanent intellectual disability, growth failure, hearing impairment, and motor delays. The tragedy is that affected babies usually appear completely normal at birth……”
Read full article at news18.com
