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How Can Portal Fibrosis And Hearing Loss In A Child Be Treated?
Question: We are looking to adopt a baby from XXXXXXX She was tested for rubella when she entered the orphanage. She had testing for sgpt come in at 450 in nov. 2016, 179 in XXXXXXX 2017 and 250 in march 2017. She was diagnosed portal fibrosis. and has hearing loss in one ear.
We have no idea how serious this is. The orphanage says she is happy and healthy and active. What is the best and worst case scenario?
We have no idea how serious this is. The orphanage says she is happy and healthy and active. What is the best and worst case scenario?
Brief Answer:
Scenario discussed parametrically
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have gone carefully through your query and understand your concerns. Please note that congenital rubella is associated with multiple problems involving multiple organ systems. It is really encouraging to know that you are motivated to adopt this child. Definitely the child needs care and support and you can offer that. But you need to be realistic about what you can expect.
* The liver is one of the vital organs of the body and her liver is impaired in such a way that there is hardly a scope of improvement. This means that eventual worsening of the liver condition can be expected.
* The hearing in the affected ear is not going to improve although the other ear is going to compensate. Hearing aids and speech and language therapy might be needed.
* The heart condition needs to be assessed using an echocardiogram. Congenital rubella is often associated with heart ailments.
* She would otherwise appreciate your love and care and she needs it. But I am not sure if she would be able to grow up to adulthood due to the liver ailment. Till then you would be able to have quality time with her but good times might not last for ever.
Let me know if I could help further.
Regards
Scenario discussed parametrically
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have gone carefully through your query and understand your concerns. Please note that congenital rubella is associated with multiple problems involving multiple organ systems. It is really encouraging to know that you are motivated to adopt this child. Definitely the child needs care and support and you can offer that. But you need to be realistic about what you can expect.
* The liver is one of the vital organs of the body and her liver is impaired in such a way that there is hardly a scope of improvement. This means that eventual worsening of the liver condition can be expected.
* The hearing in the affected ear is not going to improve although the other ear is going to compensate. Hearing aids and speech and language therapy might be needed.
* The heart condition needs to be assessed using an echocardiogram. Congenital rubella is often associated with heart ailments.
* She would otherwise appreciate your love and care and she needs it. But I am not sure if she would be able to grow up to adulthood due to the liver ailment. Till then you would be able to have quality time with her but good times might not last for ever.
Let me know if I could help further.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
Thank you! Here is what else I know:
-I do not know if she had congenital rubella. I was incorrect. She was born 9/19 and enterered the orphanage on 9/23 and then 2 months later was hospitalized and tested positive for rubella. Do you think it is likely she had it congenital? Does it make a big difference if she had congenital rubella or if she developed it out of the womb?
-Here are her hearing test results:
10/5/16 OAE - both ears abnormal
11/12/16 OAE - Left ear normal and right ear abnormal
12/27/16 BERA test - normal
What does that mean?
-I do not know if she had congenital rubella. I was incorrect. She was born 9/19 and enterered the orphanage on 9/23 and then 2 months later was hospitalized and tested positive for rubella. Do you think it is likely she had it congenital? Does it make a big difference if she had congenital rubella or if she developed it out of the womb?
-Here are her hearing test results:
10/5/16 OAE - both ears abnormal
11/12/16 OAE - Left ear normal and right ear abnormal
12/27/16 BERA test - normal
What does that mean?
Brief Answer:
The hearing was possibly not fully developed initially
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. This is definitely a case of congenital rubella. There is no reason to suppose that the child got the infection subsequently (out of the womb). Moreover, the associated presentations speak in its favor.
OAE test results can give abnormal (refer) results in case of middle ear effusion and subsequent clearing off will give normal results. It is also possible that the hearing had not yet developed and so the OAE results were negative. Eventually with the progress in development the OAE became ok and the same was confirmed with BERA.
Regards
The hearing was possibly not fully developed initially
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. This is definitely a case of congenital rubella. There is no reason to suppose that the child got the infection subsequently (out of the womb). Moreover, the associated presentations speak in its favor.
OAE test results can give abnormal (refer) results in case of middle ear effusion and subsequent clearing off will give normal results. It is also possible that the hearing had not yet developed and so the OAE results were negative. Eventually with the progress in development the OAE became ok and the same was confirmed with BERA.
Regards
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Remy Koshy
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