Vitamin B12 deficiency in children: a treatable cause of neurodevelopmental delay.
Vitamin B12 deficiency in children can rarely cause neurologic manifestations. In this series, 14 pediatric cases (median age 11 months) have been described in whom association of vitamin B12 deficiency with developmental delay or regression was observed. Severe to profound delay was present in 8 (57%) patients. All the patients were exclusively or predominantly breast-fed and 10 of 12 mothers had low serum vitamin B12 levels. Three to 6 months after treatment, a mean gain of development quotient of 38.8 points was seen in 7 follow-ups. In settings with a high prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency, this association should be actively searched for.
Department of Pediatrics, Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalaya (Associated with Maulana Azad Medical College), Geeta Colony, New Delhi, India drrahuljain1980@gmail.com.
Rahul
R
Jain
Department of Pediatrics, Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalaya (Associated with Maulana Azad Medical College), Geeta Colony, New Delhi, India.
Archana
A
Singh
Department of Pediatrics, Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalaya (Associated with Maulana Azad Medical College), Geeta Colony, New Delhi, India.
Medha
M
Mittal
Department of Pediatrics, Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalaya (Associated with Maulana Azad Medical College), Geeta Colony, New Delhi, India.
Bibek
B
Talukdar
D001942:Breast Feeding; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood*; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications
D014805:Vitamin B 12
children; developmental delay; vitamin B12 deficiency