Frantic Mom!

I brought Gabrielle Yumi, my one year old daughter to her pedia today. She had flu since Wednesday so I gave her Dimetapp. I thought it will work like it always did. But last Saturday, she woke me up with a cough. I gave her Loviscol. Again, I hoped it would perform the same magic as it did the previous times she had cough and flu. Last Sunday, she had fever. On and off. We gave her Tempra. It worked a little because yesterday the whole day and last night, she had no fever. She was able to eat. Played a little, too. But this morning, my husband texted me while I was on field for the school’s promotion dissemination. Gaby had fever. Doesn’t like to eat and drink her milk. She seemed so tired. She cried a lot. So we decided to bring her to Dr. Gwendolyn Ang.

Her temperature reached 38.6. She listened to her breathing. Her facial expression changed. She made a good full view of her throat. Then sighed. Gaby has an infection in her throat and her lungs seemed to be covered by phlegm. “Dangerous sign,” she said. She wrote some antibiotics on a sheet of paper and recommended Advil. Then she added, “If her fever will continue until Saturday, including her constricted breathing, call me and confine her directly to the hospital. This may result to pneumonia.”

I was frantic. Pneumonia. One of the causes of death among children. The more I worried when I browsed the internet and visited some sites discussing pneumonia. And here is what I have read in http://www.medicinenet.com/g6pd_deficiency/article.htm :

Infections, such as pneumonia, can also precipitate the hemolytic anemia in persons who are G6PD deficient.

Yes, Gaby was diagnosed to be G6PD deficient. Just an information taken from the same site:

What is G6PD deficiency?

Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is an enzyme deficiency of the red blood cells. G6PD deficiency leads to an abnormal rupture (breakage) of the red blood cells called hemolytic anemia (abnormally low red blood cell count). G6PD deficiency is the most common known human enzyme disease, affecting 10% of the world's population.

What is the cause of G6PD deficiency?

The abnormal gene responsible for this inherited enzyme deficiency is located on the X-chromosome. Therefore, the illnesses associated with G6PD deficiency occur more frequently in males than females, since males only have one X-chromosome. There are different degrees of G6PD deficiency, which vary according to the magnitude of the missing enzyme.

G6PD deficiency occurs more frequently in African Americans, Italians, Greeks, Asians, and other Mediterranean peoples.

The degree of red blood cell rupture (hemolysis) varies according to the degree of enzyme deficiency and the drug exposure. Usually, the hemolytic anemia occurs after exposure to certain compounds with oxidant properties, including drugs such as malaria medications (such as primaquine and hydroxychloroquine), sulfonamides, antiitching drugs, dapsone, and others. Compounds with the property of inducing hemolysis in G6PD deficient persons are also found in the fava bean. This condition, known as favism, occurs within a day of ingestion of the fava bean. Favism can cause fever, back pain, headache, nause, and chills.

How is G6PD deficiency diagnosed?

Patients with G6PD deficiency and hemolytic anemia can develop jaundice (yellowing of the eyes). Sometimes jaundice can occur in newborn babies who are G6PD deficient.

The diagnosis is made by blood testing which can demonstrate the inadequate levels of the G6PD enzyme activity by blood testing.

What is the treatment for G6PD deficiency?

Treatment of G6PD deficiency involves discontinuing the offending drug or compound and treating any accompanying infection. Recovery is the rule. Sometimes blood transfusions are needed when the anemia is severe.

Reference: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, McGraw-Hill, edited by Eugene Braunwald, et. al., 2001.

Frantic? I am. Now I am hoping the medication will work this time. Please help me pray for the health of my little angel.

Thank you so much and I shall keep you all posted.