Congenital Hypothyroidism

| What Every Primary Care Provider Needs to Know |

After completing this course you should be more confident in your ability to:

• Explain why general healthcare practitioners should test and monitor for congenital hypothyroidism.

• Formulate a plan for the confirmatory retesting for congenital hypothyroidism.

• Prescribe and adjust treatment according to the American Academy of Pediatrics published guidelines (2006).

• Counsel and educate parents to address questions and concerns about congenital hypothyroidism and emphasize their responsibility in medication adherence.

• Interpret thyroid function tests. 

• Distinguish which children warrant a trial off thyroid hormone replacement to determine if congenital hypothyroidism was transient.

• Monitor associated developmental challenges that affect children with congenital hypothyroidism.

• Utilize communication tools (such as parental handouts and patient family diaries) to improve patient outcomes and reduce health disparities due to socioeconomic determinants and language differences.