What is the U2 examination?
The U2 examination is the second of a total of twelve preventive examinations in childhood. Here, the doctor checks the child’s nervous system and organ functions. The so-called newborn screening, which is included in the U2 examination, is also particularly important: the pediatrician tests the baby for various congenital metabolic and hormonal disorders. The U2 examination is performed between the third and tenth day of life.
First, the doctor listens to the child’s intestines, heart and lungs with a stethoscope. Checking the heart sounds is particularly important to detect congenital heart defects that may require rapid treatment. As with every U-examination, the newborn’s weight, body length and head circumference are also measured and entered in the yellow screening booklet. In addition, the child receives a drop of vitamin K for blood clotting – as at the U1 examination.
A particularly important part of the U2 examination is the newborn screening. The doctor takes blood either from a vein on the back of the hand or from the heel of the child, which is tested in the laboratory for various inborn errors of metabolism and hormonal disorders:
- Adrenogenital syndrome (disorder of steroid hormone production due to defect in the adrenal gland).
- Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland)
- Carnitine metabolism defects (defect in fatty acid metabolism)
- MCAD deficiency (defect in energy production from fatty acids)
- LCHAD, VLCAD deficiency (defect in the metabolism of long-chain fatty acids)
- Biotinidase deficiency (defect in metabolism of vitamin biotin)
- Galactosemia (defect in the utilization of lactose)
- cystic fibrosis
- severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)
