Didn't go to bed til like three yesterday because my flat mate decided to get her self so drunk that it took three of us to get her into bed and make her go to sleep. I'm pretty tired so i decided I earned a lay in. Today I do have a fair bit of stuff to do, Look at my essay again, write a reflection on social class and how it affects midwifery care and research screening in the blood spot test done 5 days after birth. So what Ive learnt today
1. Phenylketonuria, Which is an inherited disease that affect the way a baby digests a substance called phenylalaine which if left untreated can cause serious weight loss and mental health issues. However early treatment can help to get the baby to feed through a specialist diet which will allow the baby to live a normal life.
2. Congenital hypothyroidism, this is also an inherited disease, this causes problems because the baby doesn't produce enough of a hormone called thyroxine. If a baby doesn't have this hormone then it can lead to serious growth defect and slow growth, this means that babies with CHT are more likely to have physical and mental disabilities. However it can be treated with thyroxine tablets which will prevent abnormal growth and allow them to live a normal life.
3. Sickle cell disease (SCD), Sickle affects the way the cells work within the body, when a baby has sickle cell the red blood cells change to a sickle shape and can therefore not carry enough blood around the body they are also much more likely to become sticky and become stuck in the small blood vessels. This causes pain and damage throughout the whole of the body and can cause serious infections and even death in very serious cases. If it is found that a baby does have SCD then the baby will receive early treatment and such as a high energy diet, medicines and physiotherapy although babies may still become ill although earlier treatment can help to prevent illness.
4. MCADD (Medium Chain Alcy-CoA Dehydrogenase Defincenecy) this is a problem if babies can not break down fats and make energy for the body. Screening can help to detect this early and aid treatment such as making sure that the baby feeds well and often when it is born. This allows MCADD babies to develop normally. If babies are not screened for MCADD and are a suffer they can become seriously ill very quickly.
And that my friends is what I have spent my Sunday afternoon doing...
1 comment:
What's a Suday? might want to check your title. I think you mean Sunday:)
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