Fenilcetonuria and hyperactivity: results in extremeños children

Abstract

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a type of hyperphenylalaninemias, which are an inborn group of errors of the amino acid phenylalanine metabolism that are usually characterized by producing a severe mental retardation and even death if it is not treated properly. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is classified as rare disease. On the other hand, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most prevalent disorders in schoolchildren. It consists of a persistent deficit pattern that includes lack of attention and / or hyperactivity and impulsivity, and it is present with an inconsistent and non adaptative frequency and severity with regard to the child's development stage (APA, 2000). Objective: To check that PKU children get significantly higher results than the control group of children for ADHD indicators. Methodology: the research includes a descriptive and quantitative approach. Interview tools were used as well as Conners Questionnaire (parents and teachers) in a sample of eight phenylketonuric children from Extremadura, who represents the total population of PKU children aged 8–13, taking into account the exclusion criteria, and eight children from Extremadura aged similarly as control group.

Keywords

• hiperfenilalaninemia
• pku
• tdah
• cuestionario conners
• extremadura