Most often, vitamin deficiency in a child is observed in the winter. It is during such a cold time that a person has significantly fewer foods and foods that are rich in vitamins in his diet.
Note that vitamin deficiency in a child can occur as a concomitant condition to a latent disease, or as a result of a cured ailment.
Hypovitaminosis
It happens that a child does not have enough vitamins in the body. This condition is called hypovitaminosis. It can occur for various reasons. This condition needs correction.
It is worth remembering that hypovitaminosis is not a complete lack of vitamins, but a deficiency of certain groups. Therefore, this disease has fewer consequences, and it is more quickly treated.
Risk group
Who is affected by this ailment? Adolescents who are puberty, little children, people who abuse alcohol and cigarettes. Also at risk are pregnant and lactating women, as well as girls who are on strict diets. In addition, vitamin deficiency is subject to:
- people who have had a serious illness or surgery;
- Vegetarians
- people with excessive stress (either mental or physical).
Hypovitaminosis can also cause stress or taking certain medications that destroy beneficial elements, preventing them from being absorbed by the body.
When a baby is fed not with breast milk, but with goat or cow milk, or given an improperly selected mixture, then he may develop a similar ailment. Vitamin deficiency may also appear due to improper feeding or too late administration.
Causes of the ailment in children
Why does vitamin deficiency occur in a child? There can be many reasons. The disease occurs due to genetic and environmental, adverse factors, hidden chronic diseases.
Also, vitamin deficiency in a child may appear due to problems with the digestive system, as a result of which vitamins are not absorbed.
Diseases of the thyroid gland can lead to a similar illness in a child. The cause of vitamin deficiency may be parasites in the body.
Decreased immunity and metabolic disorders can also lead to the development of the disease.
If a child is fed food that contains few vitamins, then the appearance of this ailment is not excluded. Hypovitaminosis can also occur due to a uniform diet, in which there are no vegetables, fruits and some categories of products.
If a child is treated with medicines, then they can destroy beneficial elements or prevent them from being absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. As a result, the baby will have a similar disease
Avitaminosis. Symptoms What appears on the skin? How does a child's behavior change?
If there is a suspicion of such a condition, then the child usually has weakness, severe awakening in the morning. Moreover, throughout the day he is lethargic and sleepy. Also signs of vitamin deficiency are:
- tearfulness;
- distraction;
- decreased appetite;
- irritability;
- depression;
- frequent soreness;
- insomnia and other sleep problems;
- reduced immunity.
Also, if a child has vitamin deficiency, he cannot concentrate on anything for a long time, his school performance is reduced.
How else does vitamin deficiency manifest? Symptoms
- peeling appears on the skin, it becomes very dry, thinned;
- cracks appear in the corners of the mouth;
- a change in taste is observed, unusual addictions appear (for example, a child begins to use coal, chalk, clay, sand, etc.).
In addition, language changes are possible. There are other signs of vitamin deficiency in children. Pink pimples may appear on the skin. The child also has problems with the respiratory system and the cardiovascular system.
With a severe form of the disease, stoop and deformation of the bones of the skeleton, curvature of the limbs may occur. Frequent fractures, cramps, and involuntary muscle contractions are also not ruled out.
Signs of the disease in small children
How does vitamin deficiency manifest in children 2 years old? In babies, all the same symptoms are observed as in adults. As a rule, a two-year-old child becomes more moody, painful. He also has poor sleep, appetite. In addition, peeling also appears on the skin.
Signs of Vitamin Deficiency
Let's look at the symptoms by which you can determine which particular element your child is missing:
1. Vitamin E deficiency. Usually, a deficiency of this element is observed in infants who are on artificial nutrition. Vitamin E deficiency can only be detected in the laboratory. Since the signs are not expressed.
2. Vitamin A deficiency. Symptoms: dry skin, pustules and rash, dry mucous membranes.
3. Vitamin B 1 deficiency. The baby has serious disorders in the work of the nervous as well as the cardiovascular system. The child has cramps and involuntary muscle contraction. The amount of urine is also reduced. There is nausea, vomiting. There is a decrease in appetite.
4. Vitamin B 6 deficiency. The child is weak, lethargic, cramps occur, stomatitis in the mouth, dermatitis on the skin. In this case, the tongue is bright red.
5. Vitamin B 2 deficiency. Signs: a sharp decrease in body weight, insufficient growth, spots on the face and body, peeling. The child’s behavior is lethargic, inhibited, there is a violation of coordination of movement. May be irritable and irritable.
6. Deficiency of vitamin C. There is scurvy, there are symptoms of the disease (tooth decay, bleeding gums). Edema also appears, the wounds heal for a long time. The baby is tearful and irritable.
7. Vitamin D deficiency. Usually manifested in children under one year old. There is rickets. Symptoms: very thin limbs, bone deformation, severe protrusion of the abdomen.
8. Vitamin K deficiency. Frequent bleeding, bleeding gums. The child's bruises appear on the body. Hemorrhages can occur in the internal organs and in the brain.
9. Vitamin PP deficiency. Signs: weakness, fatigue, diarrhea. On the skin, crusts, vesicles may appear. Also, the child's mouth and tongue become inflamed, and the skin becomes thick, folded.
10. Vitamin B 12 deficiency. Weakness, decreased appetite and shortness of breath are signs of a lack of B 12 . Hyperpigmentation, muscle atrophy, and mental disorders may also occur. The tongue turns bright red.
Vitamin deficiency in children: treatment
Doctors do not always prescribe medication. Sometimes it’s enough to establish a child’s diet, introduce supplements, vitamin dishes and the disease recedes.
But sometimes the condition of a small patient is difficult, then another therapy is required. Often in such cases, the child is hospitalized, vitamin preparations are administered using droppers and injections.
A very important condition for a speedy recovery is a proper balanced diet.
If there is a suspicion of vitamin deficiency in a child, then you should consult a doctor. Only a doctor, having examined the baby, will be able to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
Preventative measures. What can parents do?
How to prevent spring vitamin deficiency?
1. It is necessary to normalize the nutrition of the child. Introduce more fresh fruits, dairy products, vegetables, fish, dried fruits and meat into his diet.
2. You should walk more often in the fresh air.
3. It is necessary to give vitamins, with vitamin deficiency in children, by the way, they are also prescribed.
4. It is necessary to limit the consumption of harmful products (for example, hamburgers, pizza, soda).
How to choose vitamins?
Now a fairly large selection of vitamins is presented. Therefore, mothers do not know what to choose specifically for their baby. Now we give advice on choosing. The following drugs are suitable for a child up to two years old: Multi-Tabs (for children), Pikovit, Kinder Biovital, Pangeksavit, Vetoron, Multi-Tabs Kid.
What vitamins to give for children from 2 years to 5? For example, Centrum (for children); Alvitil. Also suitable for children are Unicap U and Alphabet Kindergarten.
We have already figured out which vitamins are suitable for children from 2 years to 5. And if the child is older, which complexes should I use? As a prophylaxis and treatment of this disease, fit:
- “Multi Tabs Classic”;
- "Oligogal";
- "Vitrum";
- Vitrum Plus;
- “Centrum” (for children);
- "Alphabet";
- Triovit.
We treat the disease with natural vitamins!
Now we will tell you what it is worth introducing into the diet of a child with a lack of one or another element. If vitamin B 1 is not enough, add peas, wholemeal bread, bran (rice, wheat, oat).
A child who is deficient in vitamin A should eat the following foods: sorrel, apricots, cod, carrots, peaches, fish oil, milk, liver, red pepper, spinach, butter, gooseberries, lettuce, egg yolk, blackcurrant, parsley .
With a lack of vitamin B 2, it is useful to consume cereals, peas, offal (stomachs, liver), eggs, milk.
If the child is deficient in vitamin D, then fish oil and egg yolk should be added to the diet. It is also useful to walk on sunny days.
With a lack of vitamin E, it is worth adding meat, cereal sprouts, milk, green parts of plants, vegetable oil, fat and an egg to the diet.
In order to saturate the body with vitamin K, you should use cauliflower, spinach, vegetable oils, rose hips, pork liver.
With a lack of vitamin PP, add buckwheat, liver, kidneys, fruits, fish, milk, vegetables, meat to the diet.
Children who are deficient in vitamin B 6 should eat bananas, legumes, cereals, fish, meat, liver, and kidneys.
With a deficiency of B 12, you need to add offal to the diet (kidneys and liver are especially useful) and soy.
If vitamin C is not enough, then you need to add citrus fruits, peppers, rowan berries, strawberries, black currants, potatoes, cabbage, strawberries, spinach, and also horseradish.
Little conclusion
Now you know how vitamin deficiency manifests itself in children, why it occurs. We also gave advice on the treatment and prevention of this disease. We hope that the information presented in the article was useful to you. Be healthy!