Question
How often should pediatric patients with galactosemia undergo follow-up visits?
Answer
Removing galactose from the diet can reverse growth delay and liver and kidney dysfunction in patients with galactosemia. Cataracts gradually disappear, and most patients do not experience vision loss. Early diagnosis and treatment can improve patient prognosis, but long-term follow-up shows that patients still have ovarian dysfunction, primary amenorrhea, delayed development, learning disabilities, and symptoms become more severe with age. Most have language disorders, while only a few have growth delay and balance motor function disorders (severe ataxia may or may not be present).