Following a news about a video game for children with a metabolic disease, phenylketonuria, I have investigated a little more about the disease and we bring you interesting resources that facilitate the process of teaching and learning about eating and living habits to children who suffer from it.
"Save the PKU Planet" is an international non-profit project that coordinates the University of Granada and in which other institutions participate, and has created a free game available in four languages and adapted for patients from Spain, Denmark, the United States and United Kingdom, with advice from doctors in these countries.
The game, aimed at children between 4 and 11 years old who have phenylketonuria, includes a short film entitled "PKU Planet", and you learn to discriminate against allowed foods against prohibited ones and you are motivated to take a nutritional supplement necessary to complete a correct diet.
What is phenylketonuria?
Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a pathology produced by a metabolic disorder. It is a hereditary congenital disease caused by the mutation of a gene whose defect or absence prevents affected people from metabolizing the essential amino acid phenylalanine in tyrosine.
The consequence is its abnormal increase in blood. Excess phenylalanine prevents the Central Nervous System from capturing vital amino acids for proper development, causing irreversible brain damage. For this reason, early detection and proper treatment is very important.
This disorder is not identified until tests for congenital diseases that are performed on neonates are performed. The cause is that phenylketonuria (PKU) does not manifest until after birth, because during the intrauterine period phenylalanine is metabolized by the mother.
Once detected, it must proceed to its immediate treatment, consisting in the follow-up of a diet that provides adequate levels of phenylalanine for the normal development of the Central Nervous System and thus avoid the pernicious effects of its accumulation.
Nowadays The treatment of children with phenylketonuria is based on a diet which dramatically modifies the evolution of the disease and prevents the development of mental retardation. Fortunately, there are currently a variety of special foods (without phenylalanine or with a low content) in the market.
Games and teaching materials in Fenilcetonuria.es
In the website of the Teaching Innovation Project of the University of Granada Phenylketonuria.es seeks to teach the management of Phenylketonuria in children through innovative teaching materials and the current Project has the name: "Adherence to the low phenylalanine diet in children with Phenylketonuria (PKU) and learning its characteristics through use of multimedia games ".
Its objectives are related both to the collection of basic information about phenylketonuria and its teaching-learning process in affected children, as well as to the creation and dissemination of attractive educational and recreational materials on this disease. A highly recommended website for families with members who suffer from this disorder, even the smallest.
Stresses the section of records for children from one to three years, so that children with phenylketonuria can start, by the hand of their parents or guardians, in learning the diet low in phenylalanine. Soon we will be able to see other chip books to cover the first seven years of the child's life with PKU.
We also find a section of enjoyable videos designed for children with PKU with which it is intended to encourage learning about the characteristics of phenylketonuria, as well as the correct management of the diet they need. At the same time, its exposure stimulates the intake of fruits and vegetables in babies.
The games are puzzles, look for couples and other animated games in which to fight the "Doctor Protein", which sends children foods high in phenylalanine.
These playful and educational materials for children with phenylketonuria They are very interesting, and we will be attentive to the new video game that has just been presented, because it sure also helps children and their families to learn more about this metabolic disease.
