Antenatal and neonatal screening Flashcards
Define screening
The process of identifying apparently healthy people who may have an increased chance of a disease or condition
Information, further tests and treatment are then provided to reduce associated problems or complications
What are the wilson and jugner criteria for a screening programme?
- it is an important health problem
- the natural history of the condition is well understood
- there is a detectable early stage
- treatment at an early stage should be of more benefit than at a later stage
- there is a suitable test to identify the early stage
- the test is acceptable
- intervals for repeating the test should be determined
- there should be adequate service provision for the extra screening workload
- the risks - both physical and psychological - should be less than the benefits
- the costs should be balanced against the benefits
What are the antenatal screening programmes?
Mother - Sickle cell and Thalassemia - Infectious diseases screening - Diabetic eye screening
Fetus
- Down’s Edwards’ and Patau’s syndrome
- Fetal anomaly scan
What are the neonatal screening programmes?
- Newborn infant physical examination
- hearing screen
- blood spot
Who are screened for sickle cell and thalassaemia?
Both parents - to see if they are carriers
How are sickle cell and thalassaemia inherited?
recessive
If both parents are carriers of sickle cell or thalassaemia genes, what is the chance their baby will have it?
1 in 4
What are the complications of sickle cell disease?
stroke acute chest syndrome blindness bone damage priapism chronic organ damage
What is the cure for sickle cell disease?
Bone marrow transplant
From which part of the world are people at highest risk of sickle cell disease?
West Africans Afro-Caribbeans Mediterranean Asia Middle East
What are the main symptoms of sickle cell disease?
Symptoms of anaemia
Sickle cell crises - severe pain
What are the two main forms of thalassaemia?
Alpha and beta
What are alpha and beta thalassaemia?
hereditary disorders of reduced or absent synthesis of alpha or β globin chains respectively
How is thalassaemia major treated?
regular blood transfusions
iron chelation to prevent iron overload
What is the prognosis of alpha thalassaemia major?
usually fatal in utero due to hydrops fetalis
and haemolytic anaemia
- hydrops fetalis is abnormal accumulation of fluid in two or more fetal compartments, including ascites, pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, and skin edema
Are both parents tested for thalassaemia trait?
If the mother does have the trait, the father is then offered a test to see if he carries it, too
Which types of thalassaemia are screened for in pregnancy?
only beta, bot alpha as there are no good biological markers for detecting alpha thalassaemia CARRIERS
if the fetus develops hydrops fetalis, then can take a blood sample from the fetus to confirm whether the fetus has alpha thalassaemia
Who is offered sickle cell and thalassaemia screening and when?
All women in high risk trusts
Certain women after using family origin questionnaire
by 8-10 weeks
Biological father of the baby is tested if female partner is a carrier
What is used alongside the sickle cell and thalassaemia screening?
Family Origin Questionnaire assists laboratory to interpret results and request appropriate testing
What is offered to mother and father if they are screened and found to be carriers of sickle cell and thalas.
offered counselling and prenatal diagnosis by chorionic villous sampling (taking a sample from the placenta) by 12+0 weeks
Can have TOP for an affected fetus
if born affected - will have referral to a paediatric haematologist
What is the alternative to antenatal sickle cell and thalassaemia screening?
can wait as all babies tested for sickle and thalassaemia on blood spot testing
What are the types of beta thalassaemia?
- Normal: genotype β2/β2.
Slightly anaemic, clinically asymptomatic. - β thalassaemia intermedia (genotype -/βo or β+/β+): Anaemic (symptoms usually develop when the haemoglobin level remains below 7.0 g/dL), very low MCV and MCH; splenomegaly, variable bone changes, variable transfusion dependency.
- β thalassaemia major (genotype -o/-o): Severe haemolytic anaemia, chronic transfusion dependency.
What diseases are screened for in infectious diseases screening?
HIV
Hep B
Syphillis
When are infectious diseases screened for in pregnancy?
women in early pregnancy
unbooked women in labour
How are women who test positive for infectious disease treated?
- treatment
- MDT plan of care and neonatal alert process - a form that is filled to alert the MDT of the plan for the baby when born eg bloods or tests eg an USS of kidneys
How are babies born to hep B mothers treated?
Vaccination at these times:
- within 24 hours of birth
- 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks
- 12 months
What happens to women who decline infectious diseases screening in early pregnancy?
Reofferred at 20 weeks
All unbooked women in labour must be offered
How is syphilis transmitted in pregnancy?
transplacentally at any stage