Propionic acidemia is characterized almost immediately in newborns. Symptoms include poor feeding, vomiting, dehydration, acidosis, low muscle tone (hypotonia), seizures, and lethargy. The effects of propionic acidemia quickly become life-threatening.

The acronym CHILD stands for the symptoms of the syndrome:

- CH = Congenital Hemidysplasia—One side of the body, most of the time the right side, is poorly developed. The right ribs, neck, vertebrae, etc. may be underdeveloped and the internal organs may be affected.

- I - Ichthyosiform Erythroderma—At birth or shortly after birth, there are red, inflamed patches (erythroderma), and flaky scales (ichthyosis) on the side of the body that is affected. Hair loss on the same side may also be possible.

- LD - limb defects—Fingers on the hand or toes on the foot of the affected side may be missing. An arm or leg may also be shortened or even missing.

Propionic acidemia, also known as propionic aciduria, propionyl-CoA carboxylase deficiency and ketotic glycinemia, is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder, classified as a branched-chain organic acidemia.

The disorder presents in the early neonatal period with progressive encephalopathy. Death can occur quickly, due to secondary hyperammonemia, infection, cardiomyopathy, or basal ganglial stroke.

Propionic acidemia is a rare disorder that is inherited from both parents. Being autosomal recessive, neither parent shows symptoms, but both carry a defective gene responsible for this disease. It takes two faulty genes to cause PA, so there is a 1 in 4 chance for these parents to have a child with PA.

Congenital hemidysplasia with ichthyosiform erythroderma and limb defects (also known as "CHILD syndrome") is a genetic disorder with onset at birth seen almost exclusively in females. The disorder is related to CPDX2, and also has skin and skeletal abnormalities, distinguished by a sharp midline demarcation of the ichthyosis with minimal linear or segmental contralateral involvement.

The acronym was introduced in 1980.