Screening of newborns can help detect the onset of thyroid disorders as well as help greatly in prevention of the stunting of physical and mental growth of children and even mental retardation according to medical experts.

"In India it is not considered standard to screen babies for thyroid, which if left untreated could lead to the severest form of retardation called as cretinism in children," according to Dr R K Marwah of Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences under the Ministry of Defence.

Located in the base of the neck, a butterfly sized gland responsible for secreting hormones into the bloodstream, the thyroid, is responsible for regulating the body's metabolism like eating and sleeping.

"Many countries do screen infants for thyroids but in India it is not mandatory and it is a point of debate whether pregnant woman should be screened for the disorder," says Dr Unnikrishnan of the Indian Thyroid Society.

Most newborn babies born with Iodine deficiency are found to be deficient in IQ. Their IQ levels are 12 to 14 per cent lower that normal children and you might not be able ot make out but it hampers their physical and mental growth.

"Ideally the cord blood of the mother is used for diagnosis. Earlier the prevalence of congenital hypothyroidism was found to be more like one in 4000 but recent work by experts in India have found that it has reduced to one in 2000," says Dr Marwah.

"The best way to diagnose is after 72 hours after birth and usually diagnosis is done taking the cord blood. Since most mothers usually leave the hospitals by that time it is often difficult to diagnose thyroid disorders in infants. There is need for creating more awareness about this in the country," says Dr Marwah.