Patient's question:
My friend's son accidentally got soaked in the rain while playing with my friend a few days ago. After coming back home, he started running a fever and got sick. After taking medicine and feeling better, he seemed like a completely different person. He often talks to himself, and his skin also seems to be getting drier and drier. When he went to the hospital nearby for a thorough check-up, the doctor diagnosed him with phenylketonuria. What are the initial symptoms of phenylketonuria?Doctor's answer:
After the child is one year old, their motor and developmental growth is significantly delayed, with language being the most severe. They may also exhibit clumsy gait, fine tremors in both hands, coordination difficulties, abnormal posture, and repetitive finger movements. The key to treatment is controlling the phenylalanine (PA) content in the diet, using a low-phenylalanine diet. During infancy, synthetic low-phenylalanine formula can be used for feeding. The patient's diet should also be light, and exercise can be increased to boost their immune system.