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| the doctor/pedia said we can't take pictures while the test is being administered but mom managed to snatched two pictures |
And then the results, while we actually forgot about it already, we
received a mail stating Psalm being positive in one of the disorders NBS is
looking for. Yes, he's G6PD deficient.
- Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) Deficiency is a condition where the body lacks the enzyme called G6PD. The deficiency may cause hemolytic anemia, when the body is exposed to oxidative substances found in certain drugs, foods and chemicals. For more info, check: What is G6PD Deficiency? and http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/aches/g6pd.html.
- G6PD Deficiency is in fact the most common genetic enzyme deficiency affecting an estimated 600 million people world wide. While this is the mildest disorder that is covered in NBS, it is the most common: One out of 55 babies may be affected.
It's that common but I still wish this list did not include Psalm. How
common can that be? Out of the 55 babies, he’s the sole 1 who has it. While it's a relief to know that G6PD isn't
bad as I initially thought it was and that Psalm’s doctor said it was not something
to be that concerned about I'd think still what of all the things I did while
being pregnant gave you G6PD. I thought it was something I ate or any lack on
my part that put Psalm in this state.
And yes we went to reconfirm the results. It was disheartening to see
how your baby's little feet would be pricked for another nobody knows how much ounce
of blood to verify if he indeed has the deficiency. I'm sorry son, I didn't
look when they took you in. But I heard your cry and boy you're really angry
that time. We prayed so hard for the results to turn negative but no, my baby still
has it.
One day I didn't know that G6PD exists, the next day I became a
dictionary about it. I was scared and angry at myself thinking that..
...it is an inherited disorder
and cannot be contracted in any other way.
You see, G6PD is X-linked. Meaning he got it from me, him being male
and so his female parent is the one who passed it on to him and that’s me. But
I was corrected that it’s not because I
did something while he’s at my womb. It’s possible I have it but that I’m
immune with the triggers, or I may just be a carrier with the deficiency
dormant inside me. With this, I would want myself be tested as well for
curiosity’s sake so I can weigh if I’m indeed affected too especially that the G6PD
unsafe list they have has a bunch of
what we eat most. I'd like to be assessed myself so I can weigh how much of an
issue this deficiency is.
I researched so well and dug deep in the hope of finding what can cure this condition. But no…
- There is no known cure nor do you grow out of it. It is a life long condition. The only thing you can do is avoid substances which cause oxidative stress and that use G6PD. Carbohydrates require G6PD for the body to change them into energy for example. Legumes (especially the Fava Bean) contain the proteins vicine, convicine and isouramil which cause hemolysis.
- Symptoms include hemolytic anemia caused by ingestion or exposure to certain triggers. Anemia in turn causes jaundice, pale skin or finger nails, lethargy, exhaustion, shortness of breath and fever, among others. These symptoms usually go away on their own when exposure to the trigger is removed.
I remember, Psalm has jaundice when he was still a newborn and it
stayed till he’s three weeks I think. Sunshine was his bestfriend then.
Any benefits whatsoever? One benefit of having G6PD deficiency is that
it confers a resistance to malaria.
His wonderful Pedia doc said it's no big issue as only a handful of
items are a no no while some can be tolerated to some little extent.
But oh no, the list include foods that RIchard and I consider staple on
our daily consumption...talk about tofu (me favorite, huhu), taho, soybeans,
beans, and anything with soya. Richard drinks Soya like water! Good thing
yakult is not include, phew!
But anyhow, thank God for the internet as I found out Psalm can still
live a normal life despite of G6PD. Just like his Daddy who gets rashes from
eating shrimps or from swimming on pools with chlorine, we may just treat this
as some kind of an allergy perhaps. As early as now, I need to plan changing
our diet as we need to limit our “our staple foods” intake with our baby ready
to eat solid foods anytime around. Need not worry coz it looks like we won’t
have problems introducing fruits and solids to Psalm.
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| Clockwise from left: Psalm tasting Mango (he didn't eat any, just tasted the fruit juice); Psalm eating carrots from his dropper; and Psalm with his cookie. |
References:
http://www.babycenter.com.ph/baby/newborn/newbornscreening/
http://www.g6pd.org/en/Home.aspx
http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/aches/g6pd.html
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