Resolved question:
Hello. My 5 year old son has been very tired for the past 6 months. He appeared to get worse after an ear infection 2 months ago. This resolved per Dr however continues to get weaker everyday. He has always been an active child however all he does now is stay in his pjs and lay around. He will complain at times that he does not feel well and that he feels too tired to move. He is sleeping through the night and is falling asleep aroundb 6pm every night. He wakes at 6Am. When he does play outside he is able to for about 10 minutes and then he looks like he is ready to collaspe. He will lay on the ground and then get up and ask to go home. The Dr has checked his iron levels and he is ok. However he has had 2 lactic acid tests done a month a part the most recent one 3 days ago. The results are 6.4 and 6.3. They have referred him to a mito clinic but not till August. In the meantime is it ok for him to walk around like this? Is it dangerous at all to have these levels? We encourage play and let him stop when he needs to but it's scary at times when he gets this look on his face. He also tends to walk a little sideways after this. He says he does not feel well although is not very good at explaining it. He does go to preschool 3 days a week for a few hours and they report the same behaviors. He does not have a very good appetite either.
Submitted:
4 Days
Category:
Pediatrician
Dear parent,
Thank you for your query at DoctorSpring.com
I am really sorry to know about your son's problems. Can understand your situation.
A child who is progressively becoming weaker and less active could be having a variety of problems. I hope that a detailed clinical history, a comprehensive clinical examination and a battery of tests have been performed before thinking about a MITOCHONDRIAL disease. Just going by lactate levels may not be appropriate. If you can scan and upload all the documents to me, I would appreciate it. Else, this consult would become just a formality.
1. Is there history of weight loss or loss of appetite? Is there any history of fever or night sweats? Is there any history of breathlessness on exertion? Is there history of chest pain, or palpitations? Is there any history of vomiting or abnormal stools (bulky, sticky, oily or foul smelling)? Is there history of recurrent infections in the past? Is there history of contact with tuberculosis? Is there any history of any swelling anywhere in the body? Is there any history of muscle aches? Is there any history of vision disturbances?
2. What were his physical examination findings? What did the doctor tell you? What has he/ she documented in your child's records?
3. What laboratory investigations have been performed? Has the child been tested for common infections such as HIV, Tuberculosis, etc? Has he been evaluated with a chest radiograph, echocardiography, etc? Has the child undergone testing such as Nerve conduction studies or muscle biopsies? Has he been tested for malabsorption?
Kindly provide the above details so that I can genuinely help your son.
Regards
Dr. Saptharishi L G