Although it does not present evident symptoms at the beginning, its early detection is key. With timely treatment—generally based on thyroid hormones—girls and boys can develop normally. In contrast, if it is not identified in time, it can cause growth retardation, cognitive impairments, and irreversible neurological problems. That is why performing the screening in the first days of life is not just a routine procedure, but an intervention that can make the difference between healthy development and long-term complications. In Guanajuato, the neonatal metabolic screening allowed for the detection of 73 cases of alterations in newborns, which activated immediate medical attention to prevent complications in their development. It is a test that is applied in the first days of life and allows for the identification of congenital metabolic diseases before they present visible symptoms, which is key to avoiding long-term physical or cognitive damage. In the state, this type of test is part of the preventive strategies focused on child health, with specialized follow-up for each detected case. The process not only involves the identification of possible illnesses but also the immediate channeling to medical services and constant monitoring to ensure that girls and boys receive the appropriate treatment. Specialists warn that without this type of test, many metabolic diseases can progress without being detected, generating serious consequences that could be avoided with a timely diagnosis. Therefore, the call is clear: mothers and fathers must ensure that the metabolic screening is performed on their daughters and sons in the first days of life, as it is a simple intervention that can make the difference in their development. With this type of action, a prevention policy is maintained that bets on detecting before reacting, at one of the most critical moments for health: the beginning of life. Congenital hypothyroidism is one of the most common alterations detected by the neonatal metabolic screening and occurs when the baby's thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones from birth.
