Avitaminosis - Vitamin Deficiency In Children, Symptoms And Treatment

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Symptoms and treatment of vitamin deficiency in children

It is known that avitaminosis is a human condition accompanied by the absence or deficiency of vitamins entering the body with food. The most common is spring vitamin deficiency. At this time of the year, the supply of vitamins, as a rule, is used up, and their intake with food is significantly reduced. Children are most susceptible to such conditions, especially for families with low social status, and children born with low body weight - less than 2.5 kilograms.

Avitaminosis in a child is also observed after suffering from rickets, anemia, in children who often have colds, allergies. With an insufficient intake of vitamins with food, the symptoms of vitamin deficiency will have a number of features, since the functions of each vitamin in the body have their own specifics.

Symptoms of vitamin deficiency in children

Among all types of avitaminosis, the following types of pathology are considered the most common: deficiency of vitamin A (retinol), vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin D (calciferol), vitamin C (ascorbic acid).

Hypovitaminosis A. Vitamin A belongs to fat-soluble vitamins. Its main function is to maintain the normal structure of the skin and mucous membranes. Vitamin A is also necessary to ensure metabolic processes in the organs of vision, it is a part of visual pigments and is responsible for twilight vision. Symptoms of vitamin deficiency in children caused by a lack of retinol are most often observed in schoolchildren and are manifested by dry skin, the appearance of cracks on the soles and pads of the fingers, the formation of gray itchy formations in the elbows, knees, abdomen, buttocks. The skin of children flakes off, hair can fall out, inflammatory diseases of the eyes appear, and the membranes of the eye can be affected.

Hypovitaminosis B1. Symptoms of vitamin deficiency in children, associated with insufficient intake of vitamin B1 with food, are accompanied by growth retardation, decreased appetite, memory also suffers, sleep is disturbed, and weakness appears.

Hypovitaminosis B2. With insufficient intake of riboflavin with food, the child may develop visible vessels on the eyeball, as well as diseases of the mucous membranes, tongue and lips (stomatitis, cheilitis, glossitis). Children have hair loss, rosacea on the skin.

Hypovitaminosis C. In children, vitamin C deficiency and vitamin C deficiency can cause the development of scurvy, which has a number of features and has a special name - Meller-Barlov disease, which is characterized by a violation of the formation of bones of the skeleton. Such vitamin deficiency often becomes a consequence of a monotonous diet rich in carbohydrates. This type of vitamin deficiency is combined with a deficiency of niacin, it is characterized by weakness, increased fatigue, loss of appetite, bleeding and inflammation of the gums, hemorrhages in the oral cavity, and bruising. Ulcerative lesions of the oral mucosa are usually absent.

Hypovitaminosis D. Vitamin D takes part in the formation of bone tissue, with its insufficient intake with food, children experience caries, softening of the bones of the skeleton, the child is prone to injuries, he may have muscle cramps, muscle weakness. Rickets can cause a child to lag in mental and physical development.

Treatment of vitamin deficiency in children

Treatment of vitamin deficiency in children depends on the characteristics of the pathological condition, namely on the group of vitamins, the deficiency of which is observed in the daily diet of the child.

In case of insufficient intake of vitamin A, treatment is carried out after examination by a dermatologist, who excludes other causes of skin diseases. Orally or intramuscularly, retinol acetate is prescribed in age-specific dosages. Cutaneous manifestations of vitamin deficiency require long-term treatment - from one to six months. Also, doctors recommend following a diet rich in vitamin A - enrich the child's diet with dairy products, eggs, spinach, green onions, seafood, liver, carrots, apricots, and peaches.

With a deficiency of B vitamins, children can be prescribed complex preparations containing these vitamins, in the form of injections or in the form of tablets (dragees). With a lack of vitamin B2, the course of treatment can be one month. Complex therapy also involves taking vitamins B1, PP and C.

The diet in this case should consist not only of meat and dairy products that improve the absorption of riboflavin, but also contain brewer's yeast, offal, brown rice and wholemeal flour - foods rich in vitamin B1.

Treatment in children of vitamin C deficiency caused by vitamin C deficiency should be accompanied by the introduction of ascorbic acid in the form of injections. It is also recommended to take rutin, the drug "Ascorutin" is prescribed. Vitamin K preparation ("Vikasol") helps to avoid bleeding. In addition, it is recommended to use decoctions of rose hips, plant needles. Diet means in this case a complete diet rich in vegetables and fruits.

Treatment of vitamin D deficiency in children is carried out under the constant supervision of a doctor, since high dosages of vitamin D are no less dangerous than deficiency. Children are prescribed "Aquadetrim", ultraviolet radiation courses are recommended.

Fatty fish, egg yolk, liver, dairy products are added to the child's diet. It is important for children to be more outdoors and sunbathe.

In conclusion, it should be said that vitamin deficiency in children is a rather serious problem that requires an accurate diagnosis and timely treatment in order to avoid complications and help in the formation of a growing organism as a whole. At the same time, it is very important for the child to ensure a healthy diet and a healthy lifestyle.

Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist

Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".