title: [Severe megaloblastic anemia in 6-month-old girl breast-fed by a vegetarian mother].
abstract: The case of a young girl, born to a woman who was a vegetarian for 18 years, is presented. She had been exclusively breast-fed until the age of 6 months when a severe anemia was discovered with an extremely low hemoglobin level (1.9 g/100 ml). Her physical growth and psychomotor development had been normal until 3 months of age. Bone marrow showed megaloblastosis and the serum B12 level was low (45 ng/l). B12 levels were also decreased in both parents (110 and 105 ng/l) and in the mother's milk (12 ng/l). Treatment with parenteral B12 was successful. The importance of a careful dietetic inquiry in the case of an infant with megaloblastic anemia is stressed and likewise, as a preventive measure during all normal pregnancies.
authors.affiliation: Département de Pédiatrie, Hôpital des Enfants-Malades, Paris.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cheron
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Girot
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zittoun
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mouy
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schmitz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rey
mesh_terms: D000748:Anemia, Macrocytic / Q000209:etiology*; D000749:Anemia, Megaloblastic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001942:Breast Feeding; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology
vernacular_title: Anémie mégaloblastique sévère chez une enfant de six mois allaitée par une mère végétarienne.