A foundation that conducts tests in Chiba Prefecture for "spinal muscular atrophy," an intractable disease that weakens the muscles of the whole body of young children, announced last year that there were two cases in which this test led to early treatment. , called on parents to proactively undergo examinations.
Spinal muscular atrophy is a progressive, intractable disease that weakens the muscles of the whole body. A respirator is said to be required.
On the other hand, with the development of new therapeutic drugs, it is now possible to stop the progression of the disease with early treatment.
The Chiba Prefectural Health Prevention Foundation, a public interest incorporated foundation that conducts medical examinations and other activities in Chiba Prefecture, is conducting spinal muscular atrophy screening for applicants in line with the publicly funded "Newborn Mass Screening" to check whether newborns have intractable congenital diseases. We also do inspections.
The foundation, which held a press conference on the 7th, announced that two patients were found from November to December last year in tests conducted in the prefecture from 2020 and led to treatment, and the importance of early detection of the disease. and appealed for the need for testing.
On the other hand, according to the foundation, more than half of the prefectures do not carry out these tests, and even if they do, most of them do not receive public funding, including Chiba Prefecture.
In Chiba Prefecture, guardians are responsible for about 8,000 to 10,000 yen.
Akira Haneda, director of the research center of the foundation, said, "In order to improve the examination rate, we would like to publicize the importance of early detection of diseases and request the national and prefectural governments to subsidize examinations."