Question
“What is PKU?”
Answer
“PKU, or Phenylketonuria, is a genetic amino acid metabolism disorder. Individuals are diagnosed with PKU soon after birth, but this condition is not caused by a virus, unlike the common form of PKU. If diagnosed with PKU, it is not a viral infection but a genetic metabolic disorder. Phenylketonuria is one of the amino acid metabolism genetic disorders where the body cannot metabolize phenylalanine normally, leading to the accumulation of phenylalanine and its metabolites in the body, causing damage to the nervous system and resulting in symptoms such as intellectual disability, epilepsy, and unusual urine odor. Special diets and medications are required for PKU patients to lower the concentration of phenylalanine in the blood and prevent damage to the nervous system.”