Here are tips on how to protect children with the following four most common endocrine genetic metabolic diseases, during the prevention and control period of the novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19).

1. Phenylketonuria (PKU)

The only safe, effective, simple and cheap treatment for PKU is low phenylalanine diet therapy. Milk powder, protein powder and rice and noodles consumed by PKU children must be PKU special foods to strictly limit phenylalanine intake.

Parents of PKU children, who need to apply for PKU special food, should take personal protection against COVID-19 before going to hospital. After getting a prescription at the hospital, they can pick it up at a designated pharmacy.

Special attention: Excessive intake of meat products by PKU children will lead to an increase of phenylalanine in the body, which will cause irreversible damage to the nervous system

Address for designated pharmacy: Heping Pharmacy, No 128 Minzu Road, Yuzhong district, Chongqing

2. Hypothyroidism

Children with hypothyroidism can undergo a thyroid function test at a local conditional hospital and return the test results to the neonatal disease screening center, follow-up treatment and guidance from a doctor.

Special attention: Children with hypothyroidism may need to take their medication for life -- and under no circumstances can they stop it on their own.