Neurological consequences of vitamin B12 deficiency and its treatment

Pediatric Emergency Care
Christel ChalouhiGérard Chéron

Abstract

In developed countries, the vitamin B12 deficiency usually occurs in children exclusively breast-fed, whose mothers are vegetarians, causing low stores of vitamin B12. Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency appear during the second trimester of life and include failure to thrive, lethargy, hypotonia, and arrest or regression of developmental skills. A megaloblastic anemia can be present. One half of the infants exhibit abnormal movements before the start of treatment with intramuscular cobalamin, which disappear 1 or 2 days after. More rarely, movement disorders appear a few days after treatment, whereas neurological symptoms are improving. These abnormal movements can last for 2 to 6 weeks. If not treated, vitamin B12 deficiency can cause lasting neurodisability. Therefore, efforts should be directed to preventing deficiency in pregnant and breast-feeding women on vegan diets and their infants by giving them vitamin B12 supplements. When preventive supplementation has failed, one should recognize and treat quickly an infant presenting with failure to thrive and delayed development.

References

Nov 1, 1992·The Journal of Pediatrics·S M GrahamG A Wise
Jan 1, 1994·Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology·L H Allen
Jan 1, 1997·Movement Disorders : Official Journal of the Movement Disorder Society·P J Grattan-SmithG A Wise
Feb 1, 1997·Pediatrics·E S EmeryR B Colletti
Aug 1, 1997·Archives of Disease in Childhood·U von SchenckB Koletzko
Jan 10, 2001·The Journal of Pediatrics·S A RasmussenK S Scanlon
Sep 5, 2001·Pediatrics·A L Bjørke MonsenH Refsum
Jun 16, 1962·British Medical Journal·S J BAKERS P SWAMINATHAN
Jun 29, 2005·Pediatric Critical Care Medicine : a Journal of the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the World Federation of Pediatric Intensive and Critical Care Societies·Daniela CodazziMartin Langer

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jul 1, 2010·Indian Journal of Pediatrics·Jagdish Chandra
Nov 8, 2013·Pediatric Emergency Care·Kursat Bora CarmanUluc Yis
Oct 20, 2009·Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology : the Journal of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology·D J VanderjagtR H Glew
Aug 28, 2012·La Presse médicale·Sana AbourazzakMoustapha Hida
Oct 22, 2010·The Journal of Pediatrics·Amanda F MarschJohn A D'Orazio
May 29, 2012·Pediatrics International : Official Journal of the Japan Pediatric Society·Narumon DensupsoontornStephan M Tanner
May 24, 2014·Neurological Research·Aaron de Souza, M W Moloi
Feb 18, 2011·Early Human Development·Geertje GoedhartGouke J Bonsel
Sep 10, 2011·European Journal of Paediatric Neurology : EJPN : Official Journal of the European Paediatric Neurology Society·Mustafa TaskesenFaysal Ekici
Jun 16, 2009·Journal of Child Neurology·Ozlem OzdemirMehmet Okan
Aug 28, 2015·Journal of Child Neurology·Sanem YilmazSarenur Gokben
May 9, 2015·Journal of Child Neurology·Jatinder Singh GorayaBharat Mehra
Dec 24, 2019·Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health·Can AcıpayamNurcan Ş Demir
Nov 23, 2012·Nursing·Susan Simmons
Sep 17, 2015·Advances in Nutrition·Francesca PistollatoMaurizio Battino
Apr 28, 2017·BJOG : an International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.