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Toddler Protocol
Phenylketonuria


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OBJECTIVE 1: Provide family with understanding of PKU and skills for effective PKU management.

Objective

Methods

Materials

Parents will become familiar with the self management timeline and identify tasks during the 2-3 years age.

Discuss the self-management timeline.

Continue to discuss PKU diagnosis and management during clinic visits

Child will be introduced to the concept of "yes" and "no" foods at meals, in the grocery store, etc. Family, including older siblings, will talk about "yes" and "no" foods.

Child will be able to identify "yes" and "no" foods.

Discuss the concept of "yes" and "no" foods with parents and child at clinic visit and follow-up phone calls.

 

  • Food models, pictures of foods

OBJECTIVE 2: Establish and maintain an appropriate formula prescription and food pattern.

Parents will continue to provide child with prescribed formula and food pattern and to record food and formula intake.

Parents will emphasize "formula first" and communicate that formula intake is not negotiable.

Discuss child’s intake and family’s formula preparation methods during clinic visits and telephone consultations.

Review food records with family.

Address issues around formula acceptance: taste, flavor, when to change

Emphasize importance of weighing formula:

  • Allows child to participate in own management.
  • Food record sheets
  • Low Protein Foods List



  • Article: Living with PKU--dealing with "formula battles",
    National PKU News 1993;5:2:4-5

Parents will understand typical toddler eating behaviors and will understand family and peer influences on food habits.

Family will include child in cooking experiences.

Discuss typical toddler eating behaviors:

  • Food "strikes" or "jags"
  • Changes in food preferences and appetite
  • Refusal of food indicates increasing independence

Recommend books about parenting practices.

  • List of books about parenting practices

OBJECTIVE 3: Maintain serum phenylalanine levels between 1-6 mg/dL.

Serum phenylalanine and tyrosine will be measured as prescribed:

  • Monthly blood draw when serum phe levels are between 1-6 mg/dL and tyr levels are between 0.8-1.8 mg/dL
  • Weekly blood draw when serum phe levels are <1 or >6 mg/dL

Continue to provide family with resources to obtain serum phenylalanine level:

  • Standing order at local clinic/hospital or with PMD
  • Home visit from public health nurse

Parents will track serum phenylalanine levels and make prescribed changes to formula and food pattern.

Report serum phenylalanine levels to family within 24 hours of report from lab.

As needed:

  • Make adjustments to formula prescription
  • Request for follow-up blood draw
  • Chart (notebook) for family to track serum phe levels and growth
  • Follow-up note or postcard to family documenting phe level, changes to formula prescription.

OBJECTIVE 4: Assure proper growth and development.

Child will grow appropriately.

Measure weight, length, and head circumference at initial clinic visit and follow-up visits. Plot growth on appropriate CDC charts

Evaluate estimated energy and protein intake. Evaluate estimated micronutrient intake annually.

Child will receive pyschometric testing by age 3 years.

Arrange for administration of tests, according to neuropsychological testing protocol.

* Educational materials developed by the University of Washington PKU Clinic.

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