Most often, vitamin deficiency in a child is observed in the winter. It is in such a cold time that a person in the diet has significantly fewer dishes and foods that are rich in vitamins.
Note that vitamin deficiency in a child can occur as a concomitant condition to a latent disease, or a consequence of a cured disease.
Hypovitaminosis
It happens that a child does not have enough of any vitamins in the body. This condition is called hypovitaminosis. It may occur for various reasons. This condition needs to be corrected.
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 treated faster.
Risk group
Who is affected by this disease? Adolescents who are in puberty, small 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 prone to:
- people who have had serious illnesses oroperations;
- vegetarians;
- people with excessive stress (either mental or physical).
Also, hypovitaminosis can be caused by 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 is given the wrong mixture, then he may develop a similar ailment. Also, beriberi may appear due to improper complementary foods or too late introduction of it.
Causes of illness 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, latent 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.
Thyroid disease can lead to a similar ailment in a child. The cause of beriberi 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 disease is not excluded. Hypovitaminosis may also occur due to a monotonous diet that lacks vegetables, fruits, and some food categories.
If a child is treated with medicines, they can destroy useful elements or prevent them from being absorbed in the gastrointestin altract. As a result, the baby will develop 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, heavy awakening in the morning. At the same time, he is lethargic and sleepy throughout the day. Also signs of beriberi are:
- tearfulness;
- absent-mindedness;
- reduced appetite;
- irritability;
- depression;
- frequent soreness;
- insomnia and other sleep problems;
- lowered immunity.
Also, if a child has beriberi, he cannot concentrate on anything for a long time, his performance at school decreases.
How else is beriberi manifested? Symptoms:
- flaking appears on the skin, it becomes very dry, thinned;
- cracks appear in the corners of the mouth;
- there is a change in taste, unusual addictions appear (for example, the child begins to use coal, chalk, clay, sand, etc.).
In addition, language changes are possible. There are other signs of beriberi in children. Pink pimples may appear on the skin. The child also has respiratory and cardiovascular problems.
In a severe form of the disease, stoop and deformation of the bones of the skeleton, curvature of the limbs may occur. Also, frequent fractures, cramps and involuntary muscle contractions are not ruled out.
Signs of illness in young children
How vitamin deficiency manifests itself inchildren 2 years old? Babies have the same symptoms as adults. As a rule, a two-year-old child becomes more capricious, painful. He also has poor sleep, appetite. In addition, peeling also appears on the skin.
Signs of deficiency by vitamin group
Let's look at the symptoms by which you can determine which element your child is missing:
1. Vitamin E deficiency. Usually, a lack 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. Signs: dry skin, pustules and rash, dry mucous membranes.
3. Vitamin B deficiency1. The baby has serious disorders in the work of the nervous and cardiovascular systems. The child has seizures and involuntary muscle contractions. The amount of urine also decreases. There is nausea, vomiting. There is a decrease in appetite.
4. Vitamin B deficiency6. The child is weak, lethargic, there are convulsions, stomatitis in the mouth, dermatitis on the skin. At the same time, the tongue is bright red.
5. Vitamin B deficiency2. 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. Can be excitable and irritable.
6. Vitamin C deficiency. Scurvy occurs, symptoms of the disease are present (tooth decay, bleedinggums). Edema also appears, wounds heal for a long time. The child is whiny and irritable.
7. Vitamin D deficiency. Usually manifests itself in children under one year old. Rickets occurs. Signs: very thin limbs, bone deformity, severe protrusion of the abdomen.
8. Vitamin K deficiency. There are frequent bleeding, bleeding gums. The child has bruises on his body. Hemorrhages can occur in the internal organs and in the brain.
9. Deficiency of vitamin PP. Signs: weakness, fatigue, diarrhea. Crusts and blisters may appear on the skin. Also, the child's mouth and tongue become inflamed, and the skin becomes thick, wrinkled.
10. Vitamin B deficiency12. Weakness, decreased appetite and shortness of breath are signs of B12 deficiency. Hyperpigmentation, muscle atrophy, and mental disorders may also occur. Tongue turns bright red.
Avitaminosis in children: treatment
Doctors do not always prescribe medication. Sometimes it is enough to adjust the child's diet, introduce supplements, vitamin dishes and the disease recedes.
But sometimes the condition of a small patient is severe, then another therapy is required. Often in such cases, the child is hospitalized, vitamin preparations are administered with the help of droppers and injections.
A very important condition for a speedy recovery is a proper balanced diet.
If there is a suspicion of beriberi 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.
Preventive measures. What can parents do?
How to prevent spring beriberi?
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. Limit consumption of unhe althy foods (e.g. hamburgers, pizza, soda).
How to choose vitamins?
Now there is a fairly large selection of vitamins. Therefore, mothers do not know what to choose for their baby. Now we will give advice on the choice. For a child under two years old, the following drugs are suitable: 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 the child "Unicap U" and "Alphabet Kindergarten".
We have already found out which vitamins are suitable for children from 2 to 5 years old. And if the child is older, what complexes to use? As a prevention and treatment of this disease, the following are suitable:
- "Multi Tubs Classic";
- Oligogal;
- "Vitrum";
- "Vitrum Plus";
- Centrum (for children);
- "Alphabet";
- Triovit.
Treat the disease with natural vitamins
NowWe will tell you what should be introduced into the diet of a child with a shortage of one or another element. If there is not enough vitamin B1, then add peas, wholemeal bread, bran (rice, wheat, oatmeal).
A child with vitamin A deficiency 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 B2 It is useful to eat cereals, peas, offal (stomachs, liver), eggs, milk.
If the child is deficient in vitamin D, fish oil and egg yolk should be added to the diet. It is also good to walk on sunny days.
With a lack of vitamin E, you should add meat, cereal sprouts, milk, green parts of plants, vegetable oil, fat and eggs to the diet.
In order to saturate the body with vitamin K, it is worth eating 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 B6 should eat bananas, legumes, cereals, fish, meat, liver and kidneys.
If you are deficient in B12 you need to add organ meats (kidneys and liver are especially useful) and soy to the diet.
If not enough vitamin C, thenyou need to add citrus fruits, peppers, rowan berries, strawberries, black currants, potatoes, cabbage, strawberries, spinach, and also horseradish.
Small 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 provided in the article was useful to you. Stay he althy!
