Can mental retardation be prevented?
During the past 30 years, significant advances in research have prevented many cases of mental retardation. For example, every year in the United States, we prevent: 250 cases of mental retardation due to phenylketonuria (PKU) by newborn screening and dietary treatment; 1,000 cases of mental retardation due to congenital hypothyroidism thanks to newborn screening and thyroid hormone replacement therapy; 1,000 cases of mental retardation by use of anti-Rh immune globulin to prevent Rh disease and severe jaundice in newborn infants; 5,000 cases of mental retardation caused by Hib diseases by using the Hib vaccine; 4,000 cases of mental retardation due to measles encephalitis thanks to measles vaccine; and Untold numbers of cases of mental retardation caused by rubella during pregnancy thanks to rubella vaccine. Other interventions have reduced the chance of mental retardation. Removing lead from the environment reduces brain damage in children. Preventive interventions such as child safe
Related Questions
- A six year old girl is found to have mild mental retardation, bilateral limb defects (polydactyly), and a congenital heart defect. Which of the following categories of disease is LEAST likely?
- What is the cost or economic impact associated with mental retardation?
- What are different forms of mental retardation?
