The care and treatment of phenylketonuria in infants should be guided by the pediatrician, but the main treatment is to avoid foods rich in phenylalanine, which are mainly protein-rich foods such as meat, fish, milk, cheese and eggs. For example, parents of babies with PKU should be attentive to their children’s nutrition, both at home and at school.
In addition, exclusive breastfeeding should also be well guided by the pediatrician, as breast milk contains phenylalanine, although it is much lower than that found in most pharmaceutical formulas. Ideally, the amount of phenylalanine for a baby up to 6 months of age should be maintained between 20 and 70 mg of phenylalanine per kg body weight.
- It is important that the treatment of phenylketonuria is followed according to the guidelines of the pediatrician and nutritionist to avoid complications.
- Which are mainly related to the development of the nervous system.
Nutritional treatment is the main way to avoid complications of the disease, since it is through the diet that it is possible to control the levels of phenylalanine in the blood, thus avoiding complications of the disease. It is important that the diet is guided by the nutritionist based on the results of the baby’s tests, which should be done on a regular basis to evaluate phenylalanine levels in the blood.
Phenylalanine can be found in many foods, animals and plants. Therefore, to control the disease and avoid complications, it is important to avoid certain foods, such as:
Phenylkeurates can consume fruits and vegetables, as well as sugars and fats. There are also several special products on the market designed for this audience, such as rice, macaroni and crackers, and there are several recipes that can be used to produce low-phenylalanine foods.
See a list of foods rich in phenylalanine
Although the recommendation is to exclude breast milk from the baby’s diet, using only pharmacy milk without phenylalanine, it is still possible to breastfeed the phenylketonnuical baby, but for this it is necessary to:
It is essential to exclude the amino acid phenylalanine from food, so that the baby does not have problems of physical and mental development, such as mental retardation. See what foods should look like in case of phenylketonuria.
Because a person’s diet with PKU is very limited, it may not be necessary for the body to function properly and for the child to develop properly. For example, the nutritionist may recommend the use of supplements and nutritional formulas to ensure the baby’s growth and health.
The supplement to be used is indicated by the nutritionist according to the age, the weight of the person and the ability to digest the baby, and should be maintained throughout the life.
Complications of phenylketonuria occur when diagnosis is not made early or when treatment is not followed according to the pediatrician’s guidelines, with a buildup of phenylalanine in the blood, which can reach specific areas of the brain and lead to the development of permanent changes, such as:
Over time, if the child is not treated properly, there may be difficulty sitting and walking, behavioral problems and delayed intellectual and speech development, as well as depression, epilepsy and ataxia, which is a loss of control. voluntary movements.
To avoid complications, it is important that the diagnosis of the disease is made within the first few days after the child is born by testing the heel bite. If the result is positive, it is important that the treatment is done according to the pediatrician’s advice.
In addition, in these cases, it is important that regular checks are carried out to check the overall health of the child and thus indicate changes in the diet and dietary supplements.
Follow-up tests are usually done weekly until the baby is 1 year old. Children between 2 and 6 years repeat the test every 15 days and, from the age of 7, the test is done once a month.