It’s alarming to a new mother when their infant experiences diarrhea and vomiting. The causes for a baby to suffer through this dehydrating episode are numerous. A virus, bacteria or dietary changes might be responsible.
But what is not likely the cause, yet worth a note, is galactosemia. Galactosemia is a rare genetic disorder that prevents your baby from metabolizing the simple sugar galactose.
Galactose is in many foods, and most importantly in lactose containing dairy products, which means all of them. When lactose is broken down the outcome is galactose and glucose.
Those suffering from diarrhea and vomiting galactosemia, can not breakdown galactose. So galactose 1-phosphate builds up in their blood. And an accumulation can cause some serious health issues, like:
If left untreated, many infants with galactosemia die.
Galactosemia usually causes these symptoms to develop within a few days after an infant baby drinks milk products:
- diarrhea
- lethargy
- jaundice
- vomiting
- irritability
- convulsions
- poor feeding
- failure to gain weight
Many states have mandatory screening for galactosemia in newborns. If your state does not, ask that your infant be tested.
Treatment for galactosemia causing diarrhea and vomiting requires a strict adherence to a diet free of all lactose and galactose. At this time there is no drug available to substitute for galactosemia’s missing enzyme.
Infant lactose free formulas are attainable on the market. With calcium supplements as an often recommend.
Although your galactosemic child may have started dietary restrictions in infancy, your baby may still experience long term problems, such as:
- tremors
- cirrhosis
- cataracts
- ovarian failure
- learning disabilities
- irregular menstrual cycles
- mild intellectual impairment
- delayed speech development
- uncontrollable motor functions
Should you receive notice for possible galactosemia, immediately stop feeding your baby milk products and pay a visit to your infant’s health care professional ASAP.
