Vitamin D is a regulator of the exchange of phosphorus and calcium. It contributes to the effective development of bone tissue, while maintaining its density and strength. An allergy to vitamin D in infants is a pathology that is characterized by hypersensitivity of the child’s immune system to certain irritants. As doctors note, in most cases, such a problem is noted in children before the onset of 1 year.
It is worth noting that this is a rather rare and not often encountered phenomenon that inexperienced parents may mistakenly confuse with an overdose of the drug with this substance. But in a small number of children, intolerance of this microelement can still be noted, therefore, taking funds with this useful substance is contraindicated. Symptoms and causes of an allergy to vitamin D in infants are described below.
Why does a child need vitamin D?
According to the instructions, for newborns, vitamin D is prescribed for the effective prevention of rickets, which is a rather rare but dangerous disease. But it is worth noting that, contrary to well-known misconceptions, rickets does not mean its deficit.
What can provoke an allergy?
As noted above, many people take an allergic response to existing calciferol as an overdose of this microelement. The reason for an allergy to vitamin D3 is that it usually occurs if a young mother, breastfeeding her baby, consumes mineral supplements, additionally giving them to the newborn. Also, the problem may be noted if the mother gives the child vitamin D and often takes the child out.
Sometimes instead of it, infants are prescribed D2, which is released in the form of a lighter oil emulsion. Therefore, it is extremely difficult for parents to correctly calculate the dose of ergocalciferol for their baby. But it is worth noting that D2 is not recommended for children suffering from gastrointestinal diseases, as well as the pathological course of metabolic processes, which can be caused by renal or liver failure.
Allergy Symptoms
You can find out about the intolerance of a trace element some time after consuming vitamin D, as well as drugs that contain it in their composition. Initially, an excessive amount of this substance accumulates in the body, and then an allergic reaction develops.
Typically, the following symptoms of an allergy to vitamin D in an infant appear:
- rashes that look like small vesicles that appear on the stomach, neck, hips and cheeks;
- increased urination;
- fever;
- itching, burning sensation;
- the occurrence of vomiting;
- impaired breathing;
- dry mucous membranes in the mouth;
- insomnia, excessive nervousness;
- constipation or diarrhea, excessive bloating;
- frequent sneezing
- acidosis - an excessive shift in the acid and alkaline balance.
Key features
If the newborn has the following allergy symptoms after consuming Vitamin D, you should definitely consult your doctor:
- Quincke's edema;
- hoarse crying;
- swelling of the arms, legs, face;
- pathological bone formation;
- angioedema;
- excessive weight loss;
- compression of the brain;
- anaphylactic shock;
- hypertension
- asthma attack;
- fragility of bones.
If the newborn's disease is accompanied by diarrhea, vomiting, or profuse regurgitation, there is a risk of acute intoxication. Chronic allergy may be indicated by a slow fusion of the fontanel, as well as impaired renal function, which is detected after a urinalysis.
Is vitamin D to blame?
In newborns, in some cases, an allergic response to certain components of the drug develops. For example, if a woman makes up for the deficiency of calciferol by regularly giving the baby “Multi-Tabs Baby”, then in this case the allergy can be provoked by the contained vitamin C, Cremophor EL, as well as vitamin A. In addition, an allergy to vitamin D in infants can cause anise flavoring, citric acid and phenylcarbinol.
When using Vigantol, triglyceride fats are the reason for the development of an excess of vitamin D. When using "Oxydevita" in a newborn, allergies can cause ionol or alfacalcidol.
How to treat allergies?
Before prescribing a treatment regimen for vitamin D allergy in adults and children, the doctor must conduct certain laboratory tests. These are urine and blood tests that will make it possible to determine the presence of immunoglobulin E. In addition, skin tests are also necessary.
In the future, the doctor will identify the severity of the allergy, and prescribe the most effective therapeutic therapy, given the age of the child. Nor, of course, in order to quickly save the baby from a negative reaction, it is necessary to immediately stop taking medications that may contain vitamin D.
Effective drugs
First of all, with an allergy to vitamin D, a newborn and an older child may be prescribed:
- Antihistamines: Cetirizine, Suprastin, Fenistil. If the baby is more than six months old, it is also allowed to take “Kestin”, “Xizal”, “Zodak” or “Claritin”.
- Ointments with persistent antihistamine action: “Advantan”, “Fenistil”, “Elidel”, “Gistan”, “La Cree”, “Vundekhil”, “Skin-Cap”, “Bepanten”, “Protopic” or “Desitin”.
- Enterosorbents for eliminating harmful toxins: Smecta, Polysorb or Enterosgel.
- Corticosteroids, especially in the presence of angioedema.
Creams for babies need to be selected very carefully, since many contain hormonal substances. And for some children, they may be unsafe. In order to maximally quickly and effectively cleanse the body of excess protein, you can give the baby a cleansing enema. It is very important that medicines for allergies are prescribed only by an experienced doctor.
What to do with an allergy to vitamin D?
Aquadetrim, a water-based vitamin D3 solution, is often prescribed to infants from 4 weeks of age and to nursing women. If a newborn has an allergy, a mother who is breastfeeding should remove some products that have vitamin D from her menu. When breastfeeding, you need to choose special mixtures without a high content of calciferol in it.
Another quite important measure is a plentiful drink: infants should choose high-quality drinking non-carbonated water. Water should be boiled, clean and fresh. You can not give water from the tap, raw. It is necessary to control the infant's drinking regimen for approximately 2 weeks from the moment when an allergic reaction is detected.
When all the symptoms of the described disease are eliminated, you can try, if necessary, to use other means with this vitamin. An alternative is the drug "Devisol", or traditional fish oil, which additionally contain only alpha-tocopherol and oil.
It is highly recommended that hormonal-type medications be prescribed to newborn children, unless there is an urgent need for this (for example, with anaphylaxis or Quincke's edema). When the severity of symptoms is resolved, treatment should be continued in the future by using non-hormonal medications until the symptoms completely disappear.
Prevention
When the doctor prescribes the child a regular intake of vitamin D, it is best to first give him not all the dose prescribed in the instructions, but only a small part of it. So you can check the reaction of the baby to this drug. In the absence of allergies, the dosage should be gradually increased.
When a child is given complementary foods or is fed an adapted mixture with vitamin D content, it is recommended to use the drug according to the following scheme: an infant should receive no more than 600 IU of this microelement per day.
When choosing medicines for babies, parents should ensure that the composition contains the minimum amount of this substance. It is preferable to purchase drugs that have a very light oily, or even water base. This will make it possible to reduce the risk of an allergic response from taking calciferol.
If the child already has an allergic reaction to this microelement, then parents need to refuse to take it. And instead of drugs, it is better to spend more time walking in nature, in the fresh air, especially in the summer.
You should not give your child multivitamin preparations popular in our time, unless the pediatrician has given clear instructions. Not always the child’s body needs all those substances that are in such complexes. And the need for their assimilation can cause the development of a negative reaction.
Last warnings
An allergy to vitamin D, if it occurs, is in very rare cases, and this occurs mainly with an overdose. To prevent this, you should strictly follow the recommendations of the pediatrician.
If breastfeeding is properly established, or a good mixture for artificial feeding has been selected, the baby's body will receive the vitamins necessary for its full development. But still, to develop this trace element, the baby needs to be more in the sun.
A lack of vitamins in this group threatens the development of rickets - a rather dangerous disease that progresses very quickly, especially in infants. Therefore, do not delay the treatment!
Parents should remember that any allergy is temporary, since the baby's immunity is constantly being formed. After a while, she may disappear on her own. But if a newborn identifies any pathological symptoms described above, you should immediately visit your pediatrician, especially if the child is not feeling better.
You should not establish a diagnosis on your own, since taking certain vitamins, not only group D, can provoke not only the occurrence of an allergic reaction, but also an overdose and other rather dangerous side effects.