Avitaminosis in a child: symptoms and treatment. Vitamins for children

Most often, avitaminosis in a child is observed in the winter. It is in such a cold time that a person has significantly fewer meals and foods in the diet that are rich in vitamins.

Note that avitaminosis in a child can arise as a concomitant state to a hidden disease, or a consequence of a cured illness.

Hypovitaminosis

It happens that the child does not have enough vitamins in the body. This condition is called hypovitaminosis. It can occur for various reasons. Such a state needs correction.

It is worth remembering that hypovitaminosis is not a complete absence of vitamins, but a deficit of certain groups. Therefore, this disease has fewer consequences, and it is treated more quickly.

Risk group

Who is affected by this ailment? Adolescents who are in the period of puberty, young children, people who abuse alcohol and cigarettes. Also at risk are pregnant and lactating women, as well as girls who sit on strict diets. In addition, beriberi are susceptible to:

• People who have suffered serious illness or surgery;
• Vegetarians;
• People with excessive loads (either mental or physical).

Also, hypovitaminosis can cause stress or the intake of certain medications that destroy useful elements, preventing them from being absorbed by the body.

When the baby is fed not with breast milk, but with goat or cow, or give an incorrectly selected mixture, then it can develop a similar ailment. Also, avitaminosis may appear due to improper feeding or too late introduction.

The causes of the disease in children

Why does the baby have an avitaminosis? There can be many reasons. The disease occurs due to genetic and ecological, unfavorable factors, latent chronic diseases.

Also, vitamin deficiency in the 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 the occurrence of such an ailment in the child. The cause of avitaminosis may be parasites in the body.

Reduced immunity and metabolic disorders can also lead to the development of the disease.

If a child is fed with food that contains few vitamins, then the occurrence of this ailment is not ruled out. Also, hypovitaminosis may occur due to a monotonous diet, in which there are no vegetables, fruits and some categories of foods.

If a child is treated with medicines, they can destroy useful 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 the child's behavior change?

If there is a suspicion of such a condition, the child usually has weakness, a heavy awakening in the morning. At the same time throughout the day he is listless and sleepy. Also the signs of avitaminosis are:

• Tearfulness;
• Distraction;
• Decreased appetite;
• irritability;
• depression;
• Frequent soreness;
• Insomnia and other sleeping problems;
• Reduced immunity.

Also, if a child has an avitaminosis, he can not concentrate for a long time on anything, he has a drop in school performance.

How else is vitamin deficiency manifested? Symptoms:

• On the skin appears peeling, it becomes very dry, thinned;
• Cracks appear in the corners of the mouth;
• There is a change in taste, there are unusual addictions (for example, the child begins to use coal, chalk, clay, sand, etc.).

In addition, language changes are possible. There are other signs of vitamin deficiency in children. On the skin may appear pink pimples. The child also has problems with the respiratory system and the cardiovascular system.

In severe form of the disease, stoop and deformation of the bones of the skeleton, curvature of the limbs may occur. Also, frequent fractures, convulsions and involuntary muscle contractions are not ruled out.

Symptoms of disease in small children

How is avitaminosis manifested in children 2 years old? Toddlers have the same symptoms as adults. As a rule, a two-year-old child becomes more moody, morbid. He also has a bad dream, an appetite. In addition, there are also scales on the skin.

Signs of a deficit by groups of vitamins

Let's look at the symptoms by which you can determine which element your child lacks:

1. Deficiency of vitamin E. Usually, a shortage of this element is observed in infants who are on artificial feeding. Deficiency of vitamin E can be detected only in the laboratory. Because the signs are not expressed.

2. Deficiency of vitamin A. Symptoms: dry skin, pustules and rash, mucous membranes dry.

3. Deficiency of vitamin B ₁ . The baby has serious disorders in the work of the nervous, as well as cardiovascular systems. The child has cramps and involuntary muscle contraction. Also decreases the amount of urine. There is a nausea, vomiting. There is a decrease in appetite.

4. Deficiency of vitamin B ₆ . The child is weak, sluggish, there are cramps, mouth stomatitis, dermatitis on the skin. The language is bright red.

5. Deficiency of vitamin B ₂ . Signs: a sharp decrease in body weight, insufficient growth, on the face and body of the spot, peeling. Behavior in the child sluggish, inhibited, there is a violation of coordination of movement. Can be arousing and irritable.

6. Deficiency of vitamin C. There is scurvy, there are symptoms of the disease (tooth decay, bleeding gums). There are also swelling, wounds heal for a long time. The child is crying and irritable.

7. Deficiency of vitamin D. Usually in children before the year is manifested. There is rickets. Signs: very thin limbs, deformation of bones, strong protrusion of the abdomen.

8. Deficiency of vitamin K. There are frequent bleeding, bleeding gums. The child has bruises on his body. Hemorrhages can occur in internal organs and in the brain.

9. Deficiency of vitamin PP. Signs: weakness, fatigue, diarrhea. On the skin may appear crusts, bubbles. Also the child has a mouth, tongue, and the skin becomes thick, folded.

10. Deficiency of vitamin B ₁₂ . Weakness, decreased appetite and shortness of breath are signs of a lack of B ₁₂ . There may also be hyperpigmentation, muscle atrophy, mental disorders. The language becomes bright red.

Avitaminosis in children: treatment

Not always doctors prescribe medication. Sometimes it is enough to adjust the baby's diet, introduce supplements, vitamin dishes and the disease recedes.

But sometimes the condition of a small patient is severe, then therapy is required different. Often in such cases, the child is hospitalized, injecting vitamin preparations with the help of droppers and injections.

A very balanced diet is a very important condition for a speedy recovery.

If there is a suspicion of vitamin deficiency in the child, then it is worth to contact the doctor. Only a doctor, after examining 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 avitaminosis?

1. It is necessary to normalize the baby's nutrition. Introduce in his diet more fresh fruits, dairy products, vegetables, fish, dried fruits and meat.

2. You should walk more often outdoors.

3. It is necessary to give vitamins, with avitaminosis in children, they, by the way, are also appointed.

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 available. Therefore, moms do not know what to choose for their baby. Now give advice on choosing. For a child under two years, the following drugs are suitable: "Multi-Tabs" (for children), "Pikovit", "Kinder Biovital", "Pangexavit", "Vetoron", "Multi-Tabs Malysh".

What vitamins for children from 2 years to 5? For example, "Centrum" (for children); Alvitil. Also suitable for the child "Unicap Yu" and "Alphabet Kindergarten."

We have already found out what vitamins are suitable for children from 2 years to 5. And if the child is older, then what complexes should be used? As a preventive measure and treatment of this ailment is suitable:

• "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 to introduce into the diet of a child when there is a shortage of one or another element. If vitamin B is not enough, then add peas, bread from coarse flour, bran (rice, wheat, oats).

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, salad, egg yolk, black currant, parsley .

When vitamin B ₂ is deficient, it is useful to eat cereals, peas, offal (stomach, liver), eggs, milk.

If the child is deficient in vitamin D, then add the fish oil and egg yolk to the diet. It is also useful to walk on sunny days.

If there is a lack of vitamin E, it is necessary to add meat, cereal sprouts, milk, green parts of plants, vegetable oil, fat and egg to the diet.

In order to saturate the body with vitamin K, it is worth using cauliflower, spinach, vegetable oils, rose hips, pork liver.

With a lack of vitamin PP, add to the diet buckwheat, liver, kidneys, fruits, fish, milk, vegetables, meat.

Children who have a deficiency of vitamin B ₆ , should eat bananas, legumes, cereals, fish, meat, liver and kidneys.

With a deficiency of B _12, you need to add to the diet of offal (kidney and liver are especially useful) and soy.

If there is not enough vitamin C, then you need to add citrus fruits, peppers, rowan berries, strawberries, black currant, potatoes, cabbage, strawberries, spinach, and horseradish.

A small conclusion

Now you know how avitaminosis develops in children, why it arises. We also gave advice on the treatment and prevention of this ailment. We hope that the information provided in the article was helpful to you. Be healthy!