What Is Galactosemia?
Reviewed: Dr. Mera
5. Early Complications
If the condition is not diagnosed and treated early, it will lead to many complications. In fact, the disease may be fatal in newborns. Complications of galactosemia include cataracts, liver failure, kidney dysfunction, and brain damage. Patients are also prone to serious bacterial infections (i.e. Escherichia coli) that may lead to sepsis.
As a sign of liver damage, the patient can experience hepatomegaly (enlarged liver), and accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity (ascites). Clouding of the lens of the eye, (that helps to keep the vision in focus) causes cataracts in one or both eyes. These can appear in the first few days or weeks of life, in approximately 10 to 30 percent of patients with classic galactosemia.
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