Warning Signs And Progression Of Galactosemia

Weight Loss

During the first few months of life, healthy babies grow rapidly and gain weight as their bodies develop. However, children with untreated galactosemia may lose weight instead. This is generally caused by a combination of difficulty feeding and an inability to digest food properly. When children don't meet typical developmental standards of growth, medical professionals call it failure to thrive. The majority of babies are double their birth weight by four months old, and they triple their weight by one year. Doctors should check infants to see whether they're meeting these developmental milestones. A failure to thrive is always cause for concern regardless of the underlying reason, because it can cause further developmental problems in all areas of a child's life. In addition, it's especially important to diagnose and treat galactosemia as soon as possible, because not doing so will lead to systemic organ and brain damage.