High levels of potassium in blood of six week old.

[Now we're 3]

Hi Nickle730

Update from today is they believe the little guy has CAH or Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia. Test results come back Thursday and they will know for sure. Not apparent at this stage as to what type of CAH - really serious or just serious.

Being honest whole thing has kindof put me into a bit of a head spin as there are so many similaries between her story and mine and its frightened me as to how naive (sp ???) Her DS was just 20g heavier than my DS when born. Both were 38 weekers. Her DS was 20g heavier than mine leaving hospital 2.9Kg against my DS 2.88Kg. Both were sleepy babies and had difficulty feeding. Both had low weight gain. Ironically our even our allocated paeds from the hospital are the same. I had completely forgotten until this evening that the paed had my DS have blood tests too. He never clearly explained what we were testing - and I just went along - I can remember it being really really upsetting for me as he was so tiny and they were sticking a great big needle into him - and then he said results were clear. It was probably the same test - done for the same reason - low weight gain. He always told me that my DS was fine and not to worry but did get me to make a number of follow up appointments after the 6 week check including the one where we did a blood test.

Have you heard of CAH? and is it different from hyperkalemia?

[nickle730]

Hi NW3, the CAH causes the hyperkalemia. It's an inability of the adrenal glands to produce certain hormones (cortisol and aldosterone) and is treated by replacing those hormones (lifelong treatment). I think the different types of CAH are based on which hormones are not being produced. The fact that your friends baby is already showing symptoms indicates that he probably has a pretty severe form of CAH, but obviously that is for the doctors to determine. The good news is that you now have answers and treatment is available.

I hope your friends are coping with the news. Sorry for the quick reply, i have to get the kidlets to school!