Newborn screening in the Republic of Croatia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.13112/pc.1037Keywords:
INFANT, NEWBORN; MASS SCREENING; HEALTH PERSONNELAbstract
Newborn screening in the Republic of Croatia is a key part of preventive health care, designed to timely detect and treat certain rare but serious diseases in newborns. The aim of the paper is to emphasize the importance of the implementation of newborn screening in Croatia and to analyze its impact on children's health. The paper includes an overview of the basic theoretical aspects, including the legal framework, organization, and screening methods, with a special emphasis on the role of health professionals. Special attention is paid to screening for phenylketonuria, congenital hypothyroidism, and other metabolic disorders, which are currently implemented as part of the national program. Based on the analysis of available literature and reports, the paper highlighted the importance of educating parents and constantly improving diagnostic methods to ensure the best possible coverage and accuracy. In conclusion, it is emphasized that newborn screening is necessary for early detection of diseases, which allows for timely intervention and significantly improves the quality of life of children.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Kristina Kužnik, Ivana Horvat, Tea Popović Gecan, Antonija Radušević

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