The symptoms of phenylketonuria arise only if the patient is not treated with a diet without phenylalanine, which is an amino acid present in foods such as fish, egg, meat, milk and aspartame sweetener.
When a child is born with phenylketonuria does not show any symptoms at birth, but if it does not start treatment immediately after the diagnosis, which is done with the test of the foot in the first days of life, the symptoms that may appear are:
- Microcephaly;
- Difficulties in mental development;
- Convulsions;
- Severe mental deficiency;
- Hyperactivity;
- Smell on the skin, hair and characteristic urine;
- Eczema-like rash;
- Light spots on the skin.
It is important for the patient with phenylketonuria to strictly adhere to the non-phenylalanine diet and to control phenylalanine levels in the blood on a regular basis to avoid developing any of the symptoms of the disease. The doctor and nutritionist are essential.
Find more information on phenylketonuria in:
- Phenylketonuria
- Diet for phenylketonuria
- Foods rich in phenylalanine
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