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Medicine and Sick Day Support

With seasonal influenza on the horizon and the H1N1 virus causing great worry, it is important to remember to treat the illness first if you or someone in your care with PKU is affected. 

The National PKU News site has a list of common medicines and their phe counts at their site on this medicine table. 

Tips:

  • Treat the illness first.  Put PKU on the back burner.
  • Appetite?  If yes - then let them eat, if no - don't force them.
  • Encourage fluids to keep hydrated, e.g. water, Pedialyte, fruit juice or fruit drinks, "flat" soda pop.
  • Maintain calorie intake with easily digested foods (e.g. crackers, dry toast, low protein gelatin, broth).
  • Formula?  Yes - if tolerated (may use diluted or full strength)
  • Offer food when appetite returns - ease back to diet.  It may take several days before full diet can be resumed.
  • Will blood phe level increase?  Very likely a temporary increase may occur but Remember, treatment of illness needs to take priority.