P.K.U The Genetic Disease

1. P.K.UThe Genetic Disease By: Virginia C., Jody E., Haley H., Allie Z., and Anna W.

2. P.K.U. By: The doctor, Anna Weissel

3. What is P.K.U.? P.K.U. is a recessive trait and it is also a birth defect. P.K.U. is a genetic disorder. If it is not treated, it can cause mental retardation and serious brain damage.

4. Symptoms of P.K.U. There is a lot of symptoms. These are some symptoms of the disorder P.K.U. if it is not treated properly: vomiting, eczema-like rash, musty odor to the skin and urine, increased muscle tone, diarrhea, and active muscle tendon

5. More About P.K.U. P.K.U. is inherited when both parents have P.K.U. and is sent through the child’s body. To avoid P.K.U., avoid high protein foods, avoid artificial sweetener, and avoid diet sodas. P.K.U. is a treatable disease.

6. P.K.U. Haley H. The scientist

7. P.K.U (scientist’s perspective) • P.K.U stands for Phenylketonuria. • The thing that causes P.K.U is a genetic mutation. This defective gene contains the instructions for making an enzyme needed to process an amino acid called phenylalanine. • The symptoms are brain damage, loss of skill, serve weight loss, eczema, and also mental retardation, musty smell of hair or skin, sensitivity to light, grown delays, vomiting and diarrhea, seizures, and screaming episodes.

8. P.K.U (scientist’s perspective continued) • P.K.U effects all races but it mostly effects Native Americans and Northern Europeans. • A 25% chance that both will pass one abnormal PAH gene on to a child. This is causing the child to be born With P.K.U. • It was the nation’s first infant screening test. • People can’t have certain foods such as milk and all dairy products, meat and poultry, fish, regular formula, eggs, nuts and peanut butter, dried beans, and regular flour.

9. Extra information for P.K.U In December 2007, the Food and Drug Administrations approved Kuvan, the first drug to help manage the disorder P.K.U. The drug helps reduce the patent’s blood phenylalanine levels in indivuals with P.K.U by increasing the activity of the PAH enzyme. Researchers are studying about the benefits of a nutritional supplement called BH4 in individuals with P.K.U. Others are trying to develop a genetically engineered version of the missing enzyme.

10. PKU From aparents point of view By: Allie Z.

11. Living With PKU Can Be Difficult Limited/special diet Expensive groceries Frequent visits to the doctor for regular blood tests. Regular dental care, because protein substitutes can sometimes wear down on the teeth.

12. Be Informed Knowing the facts about PKU can help you take better charge of the situation. Talk to your doctor. Join support groups to learn from other families that are living with PKU. Contact a dietitian to help you learn to plan your meals.

13. Encouragement Always encourage your child to be positive of the situation. Assure the child they will have the love and support of the family. Working together as a family will help throughout the challenges.

14. P.K.U. By: Jody E.

15. PKU (patient’s perspective) PKU is a disorder that all children are checked for either by getting blood from the babies heel or arm. I was one of 15,000 children who get PKU, which is pretty rare. Both my mother and father are carriers of this disorder, but neither of them actually have it. Dr. Weissel is helping me through it and is giving me a treatment. I am very sad that I have PKU, but I am pretty tough so I can handle it.

16. Fears • Eczema • Brain damage • Loss of skill • Vomiting and diarrhea • Sensitivity to light • Mental retardation • Grown delays • Severe weight loss • Screaming episodes • Musty smell of the hair or skin • Seizures

17. Foods not to Eat! If you have Pku you absolutely shouldn’t eat the following. Cheese, nuts, soybeans, eggs, chicken (or any kind of meat.), fish, chocolate, pasta,, bread, cookies, wheat products, any artificial candy with aspartame. The only drinks you can’t have are diet sodas and artificial fruit juices witch may contain aspartame.

18. Foods to Eat Foods you can eat as much as you want: apples, blackberries, cherries, figs, grapes, grapefruit, lemon, lime, kiwi, melon, mangoes, olives, oranges, pears, pineapple, plums, pomegranate, prunes, raspberries, strawberries, cabbage, carrots, celery, cucumber, okra, lettuce, mushrooms, onion, peppers, pumpkin, tomato, and herbs. Beverages: water, lemonade, coke, instant tea, black coffee, and pure fruit juices.

19. P.K.U. Notes from the Nurse, Virginia C.

20. Nurse’s Clipboard A child with untreated PKU can loose interest in there surroundings, causing behind or slow development, in which causes mental retardation. It can be stopped in the first few weeks of life with a certain diet. It is a recessive trait. 1 in 15,000 newborns in the U.S.A. will end up with PKU. When a baby is 2 weeks old they draw blood to test for PKU.

21. P.K.U. Food Bull’s-Eye This is a P.K.U. Food Bull’s-Eye, it helps families with P.K.U. decide what to eat.

22. Affected Child Chart

23. CredIts MSN health http://health.msn.com/ PKU Network http://www.pkunetwork.org/ Mayo Clinic http://www.moyoclinic.com Google www.google.com Mrs. K’s website http://www.cherokee.k12.ga.us/Schools/carmel-es/default.aspx Web MD http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/tc/phenylketonuria-pku-symptoms Med Help www.medhelp.com