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Q. What is mild galactosemia? |
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A.
Mild galactosemia affects the way the body processes the sugar galactose,
a component of milk and dairy products. Children
with mild galactosemia may have some difficulty processing galactose.
As a result, galactose and other by-products can build up in the
bloodstream. |
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Q. Is there only one form of galactosemia? |
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A.
No, there are several forms. Mild
galactosemia is a term used to describe the non-severe forms that usually do not
require treatment. |
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Q. How does the body normally process galactose? |
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A.
The body normally converts galactose into glucose, which is used for
energy. This conversion is made
possible by several enzymes. One of these, named galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase
(GALT), is most often associated with mild galactosemia. |
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Q. What is the treatment for mild galactosemia? |
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A.
Mild galactosemia usually does not require treatment.
However, some infants may benefit from reduced milk intake.
If a child with mild galactosemia has difficulty tolerating breast milk
or regular formula, soy based formula can be substituted. |
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Q. Why would a child have galactosemia? |
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A.
Galactosemia is an inherited disorder.
It results when a baby receives a GALT gene that does not work well from
each parent. For more information
about this, contact your health care provider or a genetic counselor. |
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