Question
The child has been behaving abnormally recently, often crying and fussing, and the hospital examination has yielded no results. I would like to inquire about the diagnostic methods for phenylketonuria.
Answer
The diagnosis of phenylketonuria typically involves testing the level of phenylalanine in the blood. In addition to potentially recurrent outbreaks of eczema, typical features of the condition include abnormal body odor (such as a mouse urine smell) and developmental disabilities in intelligence and growth, which may be accompanied by symptoms such as hyperactivity, restlessness, or decreased appetite. The child’s eczema may also be due to an allergy to certain substances or a hereditary allergic body. It is recommended to take the child to the dermatology department of the hospital for a detailed examination to determine the cause of the rash before proceeding with targeted treatment.