Hypovitaminosis in children. Hypovitaminosis Indications for taking calciferol drugs

Vitamins take an active part in many physiological processes, and their deficiency significantly affects the general health of adults and children. Every day the human body consumes a certain amount of fortified substances and these losses must be replenished so that an imbalance does not occur. Hypovitaminosis, which occurs due to a lack of various vitamins in the body, is dangerous for the body because it can lead to the development of quite serious diseases. It is important to identify this disease in time and take appropriate measures to cure it.

Every day, the human body needs a variety of groups of vitamins, ranging from C, B to D, K. Depending on what vitamins the body currently needs, the type of hypovitaminosis is classified. Each type of disease has its own specific symptoms that you need to pay attention to. There are also general clinical symptoms that are characteristic of all patients. Thus, patients with hypovitaminosis experience a general state of weakness, slight dizziness, insomnia and periodic mood changes.

Despite the abundance of symptoms indicating various types of hypovitaminosis, the most characteristic signs of all types of this disease are various changes in the skin, as well as increasing fragility and weakness of hair.

Hypovitaminosis in adults

If there is a lack of vitamin A in the body, then a person may experience vision problems. In addition, this type of hypovitaminosis is characterized by frequent damage to the mucous membranes; dry areas and slight peeling may be observed on the skin. In some cases, the patient develops a dry cough, as well as the first signs of erosive gastritis. Hypovitaminosis A can contribute to fairly long-lasting infectious diseases in the digestive system, genitourinary organs, and respiratory tract.

Lack of vitamin A may cause vision and skin problems

Hypovitaminosis caused by a lack of vitamin B1 is quite common. . This type of disease is characterized by nonspecific symptoms and sluggishness.. Patients may develop severe irritability, sleep disturbances, and impaired ability to work. With the progressive course of the disease, the patient experiences an aversion to certain foods, memory loss, and constipation. In addition, there may be a decrease in skin sensitivity, as well as muscle weakness in the form of asymmetric atrophy.

A lack of vitamin B2 in the body is typical for those patients who suffer from pathologies of certain organs of the gastrointestinal tract. The main symptoms of this type of hypovitaminosis can be observed in the mouth and eyes. Small, occasionally bleeding wounds and cracks appear on the lips, and the person experiences pain when opening the mouth wide. The inner surface of the oral cavity acquires a grayish tint. Photophobia, decreased visual acuity may be observed, and in some cases purulent inflammation develops.

If hypovitaminosis has developed due to a lack of vitamin B6 in the body, then the main manifestations in a person may be changes in the nervous system and on the skin. The patient exhibits signs of polyneuritis, and small pustular lesions appear on the skin. Characteristic symptoms of this disease for people who abuse alcohol are short-term convulsive attacks.

An imbalance of vitamin B12 in the body can manifest itself as three different syndromes. Symptoms of anemic syndrome are circulatory disorders in the extremities, as well as the appearance of headaches and general weakness. Neurological abnormalities are characterized by decreased sensitivity and changes in the functioning of certain tendon effects. With the gastroenterocolitic nature of the disease, the patient may experience changes in taste, regular nausea, and periodic aching pain in the abdominal area. In addition, unsystematic alternation of loose stools with constipation is possible.

Hypovitaminosis, belonging to group C, is usually characterized by the appearance of large areas of subcutaneous hemorrhages in patients. In addition, very often the gums are subject to regular bleeding, and symptoms characteristic of intermittent fever may be observed. Respiratory and hemodynamic disorders occur with varying degrees of intensity.


Hypovitaminosis group C is characterized by constant subcutaneous hemorrhages

Insufficient intake of vitamin D by the body is usually characterized by the appearance of symptoms, which leads to increased bone fragility and, as a consequence, the development of pathological fractures. In some cases, some abnormalities of bone formation are detected. In pregnant women, this manifests itself in the form of severe toxicosis and extragenital pathologies.

Hypovitaminosis PP and E is quite rare. Patients with this disease are irritable, suffer from constant feelings of weakness, and have problems sleeping. They may actively develop various cognitive impairments, skin damage that is trophic in nature, as well as some symptoms of enterocolitis. Lack of vitamins E manifests itself in the form of muscular dystrophy and infertility in women.

It is believed that foods rich in vitamin E help maintain youth and attractiveness. For this reason, this vitamin is included in the diets of many famous personalities.

The lack of vitamins K in the body can be characterized by disturbances in the processes responsible for blood clotting. Patients develop severely bleeding small wounds in the mouth and nose area. A generalized petechial rash can be observed on all areas of the skin. In addition, there is a risk of intracranial hemorrhage.

Manifestation of hypovitaminosis in children

More often in childhood and adolescence, hypovitaminosis of groups B, A, D, as well as C and PP is observed. If there is a lack of vitamin A in a child’s body, a change in the shade of the cornea, the appearance of dry skin, as well as a feeling of dry mouth, and blepharitis may occur. Small pustules appear on children's skin, photophobia develops, and some infectious diseases of the respiratory tract may develop.

Group D hypovitaminosis is characterized in children by the appearance of typical symptoms of rickets, namely: irritability, anxiety, sweating, and so on. Children with a lack of vitamin C experience pain in the muscles, their appetite worsens significantly, and a state of lethargy and weakness appears in the legs. Small hemorrhages can be detected on the skin and in the oral mucosa. In addition, characteristic looseness and bleeding appear on the gums.

If there is not enough vitamin B1 in a child’s body, then the child develops sleep disturbances, he becomes irritable and restless. Sensitivity in muscle groups increases and hypotension develops. Sometimes the disease is accompanied by vomiting and loose stools. In children at an early age, slow weight gain, hypertension, cardiospasm, and pylorospasm can be observed.


Vitamin B1 deficiency in children can cause sleep disturbances and emotional imbalance

Children with hypovitaminosis B2 develop small cracks and ulcerations in the mouth area, sebaceous plugs in the nasolabial folds, as well as transverse cracks on the lips. When examining the tongue, you can see a smooth shiny surface with small atrophied papillae. This type of disease is characterized by dilation of corneal vessels and palmar erythema. There is a risk of dermatitis occurring in various areas of the face.

The main symptoms of hypovitaminosis PP in children are: thickened tongue with a red tint, ulcerative stomatitis, brittle nails. Brown spots may also appear on the skin. Sometimes there is loose stool and a tendency to flatulence. A lack of vitamin B6 leads to increased excitability, anxiety, and decreased appetite. Seborrheic eczema may appear on the skin. In addition, you should pay attention to growth retardation and slower weight gain.

What can cause hypovitaminosis? There are many reasons for vitamin deficiency in the body.

1. Unbalanced diet of the child.

2. Inability to absorb certain vitamins.

3. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

4. Impaired functioning of the thyroid gland.

5. Medicines that interfere with the absorption of vitamins.

6. Presence of chronic or hidden diseases.

7. A disrupted metabolic process will also serve as a trigger for the development of hypovitaminosis.

8. Reduced immunity.

9. The presence of worms in the child’s body.

10. Genetic diseases and pathologies.

11. Bad environment.

12. Long-term antibiotic therapy.

13. Stress.

Symptoms

The clinical picture of hypovitaminosis will depend on which vitamin is missing.

Vitamin A deficiency is determined by the following signs:

  • the appearance of night blindness;
  • dry skin with frequent formation of ulcers;
  • the child’s teeth may deteriorate and the tooth enamel will become very sensitive;
  • sleep quality disturbance;
  • apathy;
  • increased fatigue;
  • growth retardation;
  • decreased immunity.

A deficiency of B vitamins can be recognized by the following symptoms:

  • With a lack of vitamin B1, severe disturbances in the central nervous system (convulsions, coma) occur. From the cardiovascular system, only arrhythmias will be detected. With a slight deficiency of this vitamin, the following is observed: marbling of the mucous membranes; muscle weakness; gastritis develops; tachycardia; constipation;
  • With a lack of vitamin B2, anemia, weight loss, lack of appetite, and impaired coordination of movements will appear. Seizures occur quite often; Vitamin B2 deficiency is characterized by stomatitis, the appearance of weeping spots, bleeding of the lips as a result of the formation of cracks. The first signs of vitamin B2 deficiency will be photophobia, lacrimation, conjunctivitis;
  • B6 deficiency will manifest itself in the form of seizures. Characteristic symptoms are dry, flaky skin. The first signs may be inflammation of the lips and tongue. The child exhibits anxiety, excitability, and tearfulness. The child does not eat, vomiting and diarrhea occur;
  • The main symptom of vitamin B12 deficiency is anemia. There will also be: developmental delay, growth retardation, seizures, loss of consciousness;
  • with a lack of nicotinic acid, diarrhea, weight loss, abdominal pain, bloating, and emotional instability are noted;
  • if there is a lack of vitamin B3, the following will appear: a yellow coating on the tongue, the child will be awake at night and sleep during the day, the function of the adrenal glands decreases, and a feeling of numbness appears in the arms and legs.

A lack of vitamin C will manifest itself in:

  • with a severe lack of ascorbic acid, there may be: apathy, lethargy, bleeding gums, muscle pain;
  • in case of acute deficiency, the following will be observed: tooth loss, problems with the cardiovascular system, and disruptions in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
  • in severe cases, scurvy may develop;
  • disorders in the respiratory system;
  • multiple hemorrhages appear on the skin;
  • bone deformation occurs.

The skin becomes very sensitive. Therefore, when touched, the child reacts by crying.

A lack of vitamin E is characterized by: the appearance of dermatitis, fragility, dullness of hair, dryness and flaking of the skin; in severe cases, keratinization of the mucous membranes, loss of skin turgor, blurred vision, bleeding in the stomach, intestines, jaundice, anemia, and increased blood clotting can occur.

With a lack of vitamin D, there may be a delay in the growth and development of the child, rickets, and bone fragility.

As a result of a lack of vitamin K in a growing body, hemorrhagic blood disease and loss of normal blood clotting are observed.

Diagnosis of hypovitaminosis in a child

To diagnose hypovitaminosis in children, a large number of studies and tests are carried out.

  • Clinical and biochemical blood test.
  • Urine examination.
  • Conducting electroretinography (to determine eye diseases).
  • Blood serum is examined.
  • X-ray examination (detect pathological changes in the bones).

Complications

Consequences and complications may be:

  • Skin diseases.
  • Atrophic gastritis.
  • Liver cyst.
  • Malignant neoplasm of the pancreas.
  • Osteomalacia.
  • Incorrect leg positioning (dysplasia).
  • Myopathies.
  • Paralysis of the muscles of the eye with subsequent drooping of the eyelid.

Treatment

What can you do

If you suspect hypovitaminosis, you should consult a doctor. Review the child’s diet and supplement it with the necessary vitamins. Do not overload the child with carbohydrates, ensure a balanced intake of fats and proteins. Follow food storage rules. Try to lead an active and healthy lifestyle.

What does a doctor do

It is quite difficult to make a diagnosis of hypovitaminosis. This is due to the blurred clinical picture. The doctor identifies one or more leading symptoms, collects an anamnesis of life and illness. Orders laboratory tests. Next, a diagnosis is made and treatment is prescribed. A diet is prescribed for the child. Vitamin complexes are also prescribed. Symptomatic treatment is carried out.

Prevention

The main methods of preventing hypovitaminosis are:

  • varied diet;
  • fresh and high-quality products;
  • timely treatment of chronic diseases;
  • proper processing of fruits and vegetables;
  • long walks in the fresh air;
  • taking vitamins in the off-season.

You will also learn how untimely treatment of hypovitaminosis in children can be dangerous, and why it is so important to avoid the consequences. All about how to prevent hypovitaminosis in children and prevent complications.

And caring parents will find on the service pages complete information about the symptoms of hypovitaminosis in children. How do the signs of the disease in children aged 1, 2 and 3 differ from the manifestations of the disease in children aged 4, 5, 6 and 7? What is the best way to treat hypovitaminosis in children?

Take care of the health of your loved ones and stay in good shape!

In children with a lack of vitamin D in the body, rickets develops as a result of impaired mineralization of bone tissue. It is one of the most common diseases of infants and young children, and it also occurs in many children under the age of one year. Even the name itself - “rickets” - evokes very unpleasant associations. But, as popular wisdom says: “The devil is not as scary as he is painted!”

Vitamin D is a vitamin. Scientists biochemists distinguish two of its forms: ergocalciferol, or vitamin D2, which enters the human body, and cholecalciferol, or vitamin D3, which comes from food of animal origin and is also synthesized in the skin under the influence of ultraviolet rays. Interestingly, synthesis occurs at a rate of 18 IU/cm/hour.

Vitamin D, which enters the body with food, is absorbed in the duodenum in the presence of bile salts. Part of the cholecalciferol that enters the body is stored in adipose tissue and muscles as a reserve, and the other part is transported to the liver with the help of special proteins, where it is converted into a more active form, then enters the kidneys for further metabolism. It is there that the most active form of vitamin D3, calcitriol, is ultimately formed, which participates in numerous biochemical reactions, ensuring the course of physiological processes. The conversion of vitamin D in the body occurs under the strict guidance of the level of parathyroid hormone and the concentration of phosphorus and calcium in the blood.

So, the spectrum of vitamin D activity in the human body is as follows:

  • Regulating absorption in the intestine and maintaining its level in the bloodstream;
  • Strengthening the absorption of phosphorus in the kidneys, the formation of phosphorus-calcium salt, which is necessary for the mineralization of bone tissue;
  • Regulation of the synthesis of thyroid hormones;
  • Stimulation of the growth of tubular bones, collagen, chondrocytes;
  • Vitamin D also has a hormonal effect - it affects intestinal cells, thereby stimulating the production of calcium transport protein, and in the kidneys and muscles it increases the absorption of that same calcium.

Thus, it is clear that the functions performed by vitamin D in our body are so multifaceted that without it, the full functioning of all systems is impossible.

The terrible word “rickets”! What does it mean?

On the left is normal bone, on the right is osteoporosis.

Rickets is a disease that develops as a result of vitamin D deficiency in the body of mainly young children, as a result of which phosphorus-calcium metabolism is disrupted, leading to damage to many systems and organs, but primarily to the bone skeleton.

In older children and adults, vitamin D deficiency manifests itself in osteoporosis (calcification of bone tissue) and osteomalacia (softening of bones), which leads to frequent fractures and skeletal deformities.

The disease has been known since ancient times. The frightening diagnosis “rickets” translated from Greek simply means “spine,” since the curvature of the latter is the main symptom of this disease.

Although at the moment rickets occurs to one degree or another in most children, thanks to timely and correct prevention it is possible to avoid a severe course and serious complications of the disease.

The cause of the so-called classic rickets is hypovitaminosis of vitamin D of exogenous or endogenous origin.

Exogenous factors include:

  1. Insufficient exposure of the child to fresh air, insufficient exposure of the skin to direct sunlight (at risk are residents of the Arctic, children born between October and April), which leads to reduced synthesis of vitamin D in the epidermis.
  2. Insufficient consumption of foods rich in vitamin D, phosphorus and calcium, in particular fish oil, etc.
  3. Artificial feeding, especially with unadapted milk formulas, because they do not have a balanced amount of vitamins and microelements needed by the baby. I hope that in the 21st century no one feeds newborns with whole cow’s milk, or even more so with goat’s milk, because animal milk is only 40% capable of covering a child’s need for the substances he needs! Be prudent, do not spare money on.
  4. Prematurity, multiple pregnancy.
  5. Short intervals between mother’s pregnancies, the age of the mother under 17 and after 40 years, pathologies during pregnancy, causing depletion of minerals and vitamins.
  6. Unsatisfactory child care and unsuitable living conditions.

Endogenous causes:

  1. Impaired absorption of vitamin D, phosphorus and calcium in the intestine, which is observed in malabsorption syndrome, pathology of the biliary system.
  2. Disruption of vitamin D metabolism in the liver and kidneys due to pathology of these organs or genetic disorders.
  3. Defect in the functioning of vitamin D-sensitive receptors.

When should you worry?

Rickets can be mild, moderate or severe. They also distinguish the initial period, the period of height, convalescence (recovery) and residual effects, but we will not delve into the essence of the classification, we will leave this to the specialists. The most important thing is to know the symptoms of rickets in order to suspect it in time, consult a doctor and start therapy in a timely manner.

Thanks to the use of adapted mixtures containing vitamin D, improvement of living conditions, and widespread and successful prevention in our time, rickets rarely reaches the 3rd degree of severity, and even the 2nd occurs only in advanced cases. Most children have mild or moderate signs of this disease, often without skeletal damage.

You can notice the first signs of the disease in a baby at the age of 2–3 months; earlier, rickets can only appear in premature babies. The first thing that will attract attention is a change in the baby’s behavior: restlessness, increased excitability, flinching at a sharp sound or bright light, shallow sleep. Increased sweating is also noted, especially during sleep and feeding. Sweat with an unpleasant sour odor. The head sweats the most and, accordingly, itches, so the child intensively rubs it on the pillow and gradually wipes the hair on the back of the head.

The child’s development stops: motor and static functions are impaired. Muscle tone is reduced, so the child cannot sit, crawl, or walk; The frog pose becomes characteristic of a child - the baby lies on his back with his arms and legs spread to the sides; due to weakness of the abdominal muscles, an umbilical hernia and a hernia of the white line of the abdomen can form. This period lasts from 2 weeks to 2–3 months; in the absence of adequate treatment, the disease enters the peak stage. It occurs somewhere in the second half of life.

The child becomes lethargic, capricious, and lags behind in psychophysical development. In addition to the symptoms already described, distinct deformations of the skeletal system are added. There is a flattening of the occiput and an increase in the frontal tubercles due to osteomalacia of the skull bones, the chest is deformed: depression in the lower third (“shoemaker’s chest”) or bulging—“keeled chest”; curvature of the long tubular bones and spine also occurs with a clear predominance of kyphosis over lordosis . Hypoplasia of bone tissue entails late closure of the fontanel and skull sutures, and delayed teething.

In subacute cases, at the border of the transition of cartilaginous tissue into bone tissue on the ribs, in the interphalangeal joints, due to hyperplasia of bone tissue, so-called rosary beads, “strings of pearls,” are formed.

During the period of convalescence, the child’s condition improves, but muscle hypotonia persists for quite a long time, and bone deformations will remind of rickets all his life.

The main thing is no amateur performance! Contact your pediatrician and tell them about your concerns. And decide together what to do next. You will most likely need to have a blood chemistry test to determine your calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase levels. They will help to definitively establish the diagnosis. If treatment is started in a timely manner, the result will not be long in coming.

Prevention of rickets


One of the measures to prevent rickets and osteoporosis is regular consumption of foods rich in calcium.

As for the treatment of rickets, there are special schemes for selecting dosages of vitamin D3, and it is its solutions that are used as a base drug. The selection is carried out by the doctor, he will tell and explain everything in detail.

But let’s talk about prevention in more detail.

Prevention begins during pregnancy. The fetus has a high need for calcium absorption, especially during the period from the 27th to the 40th week of pregnancy. Great importance is attached to nonspecific methods of prevention, such as:

  • Sufficient physical activity, spending at least 2 hours a day in the fresh air during daylight hours.
  • Complete nutrition, enriched with proteins, vitamins, microelements, especially calcium and phosphorus.
  • Treatment of toxicoses and pathologies that threaten the fetus.

The need for specific prevention arises only in the last months of pregnancy, and only if they fall in the autumn-winter period. Starting from the 28th week of pregnancy, the vitamin is taken at 1000 IU/day. (this is 2 drops of an aqueous solution of cholecalciferol). It is not recommended to use vitamin D as a specific prophylaxis in pregnant women over 30 years of age due to the likelihood of calcium deposits in the placenta and the development of fetal hypoxia.

After the birth of the child you must:

  • . Breast milk has a certain peculiarity - the front portions of milk contain calcium, and the rear portions transmit the amount of vitamin D that is needed for the absorption of calcium. rickets in a baby is practically excluded; if breastfeeding is not possible for one reason or another, use adapted milk formulas.
  • Sufficient exposure to the sun - 2-3 hours in summer, at least 30 minutes in winter, adherence to a daily routine.
  • Massage and gymnastics daily for 30 minutes.
  • Specific prevention is carried out using either an aqueous solution of vitamin D3, this is the drug "Aquadetrim", or an oil solution of D3 - "Vigantol" or "Ergocalciferol". Start at one month of age, 1 drop 1 time per day and continue throughout the 1st year of life, with the exception of the summer quarter. 1 drop of an aqueous solution contains 500 IU of vitamin D, and 1 drop of an oil solution = 1000 IU, so the oil solution is recommended for use by premature babies from 2-3 weeks of age.

Interesting fact: in France, to prevent rickets, all children are prescribed 1000–1500 IU/day, since in this country cholecalciferol is not added to dairy products.

  • A positive effect from the use of vitamin D is possible only if the child’s calcium needs are met (200 mg/day for children 1 year of age). The main source of calcium are dairy products: milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, cheese.
  • must be present: egg yolk, butter, fish and bird liver, caviar and, of course, dairy products.

The use of vitamin D for treatment and prevention is contraindicated in the case of hypoxia or intrauterine trauma in a child, kernicterus and small fontanelles at birth.

If you spend several hours in the sun every day, this will be enough to never run into vitamin D deficiency.

Video version of the article:


What is hypovitaminosis in children -

Hypovitaminosis- lack of any vitamins in the child’s body. This condition occurs quite often.

Hypovitaminosis should be distinguished from vitamin deficiency. The first condition indicates a deficiency of vitamins, and the second indicates their complete absence in the body. Hypovitaminosis is less dangerous and can be treated faster. The risk group of children in whom vitamin deficiency occurs very often includes:

  • children under 5 years old,
  • children of puberty,
  • teenagers who have bad habits,
  • having high physical or mental stress
  • following a strict diet
  • vegetarians
  • children who have undergone surgery or serious illness
  • people with chronic diseases
  • susceptible to stress and chronic fatigue

What provokes / Causes of Hypovitaminosis in children

The causes of hypovitaminosis in children can be:

1. Digestive problems - vitamins cannot be absorbed normally in the gastrointestinal tract

2. Drugs that interfere with the absorption of vitamins or destroy them

3. Feeding the baby foods and dishes that contain very small amounts of vitamins

4. Monotonous diet, lack of vegetables and fruits

5. Chronic or hidden diseases

6. Decreased immunity, metabolic disorders

8. Genetic causes

9. Unfavorable environmental conditions

10. Thyroid diseases

Pathogenesis (what happens?) During hypovitaminosis in children

Vitamin deficiencyC

Vitamin C is necessary for the body for normal redox processes and adequate carbohydrate metabolism. The development and function of bone and cartilage tissue, the permeability of the vascular wall, the development of the skin, adrenal glands, etc. depend on it. If there is little ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in the body, the T-system of immunity is suppressed. This leads to the development of infectious complications.

Symptoms of hypovitaminosis in children

Most often in children there is a lack of vitamins B, A, D, C, PP.

Vitamin A

This vitamin is needed for growth processes, it has an antixerophthalmic effect, and is necessary to protect the epithelium. Vitamin A is involved in the regulation of protein synthesis, increases the body's resistance to infectious diseases, participates in the formation of visual purple, and stimulates the formation of corticosteroids. Children under 1 year of age should receive 1650 IU of vitamin A per day.

Vitamin A

  • oil
  • milk
  • egg yolk
  • liver
  • fruits (apricots, blackcurrants, peaches, lemon)
  • fresh vegetables (carrots)

Symptoms of vitamin A hypovitaminosis

  • loss of corneal luster
  • dry skin and desquamation of the epidermis,
  • dry mouth and pharynx,
  • blepharitis,
  • photophobia,
  • dryness and dullness of hair,
  • appearance of pustules on the skin
  • tendency to recurrent respiratory tract infections

Vitamin D

This vitamin in the child’s body takes part in stimulating skeletal growth, regulating calcium and phosphorus metabolism, and regulating tissue respiration.

Vitamin D contained in the following products:

  • fish liver (herring, cod)
  • egg yolk
  • milk
  • butter

If a child does not receive 400-500 IU of vitamin D per day, he develops rickets with all the typical symptoms.

Vitamin C

It stimulates the formation of intercellular adhesive substance, has an antiscorbutic effect, promotes the accumulation of glycogen in the liver, and takes part in redox processes in the body. Vitamin C also has a positive effect on oxygen absorption and adrenal function, has an antitoxic and desensitizing effect, and plays an important role in protein synthesis. Children under 12 months should normally receive 35 mg of vitamin C per day, and children 2-3 years old should receive from 45 to 60 mg.

VitaminCcontained in the following products:

  • black currant
  • green parts of plants
  • lemon
  • rose hip
  • meat and liver
  • potato
  • tangerines and oranges

Symptoms of vitamin C hypovitaminosis

  • minor hemorrhages on the skin and mucous membranes of the mouth
  • looseness and bleeding gums
  • lethargy and weakness in the legs
  • muscle soreness
  • loss of appetite

Vitamin B1

It regulates the functioning of the child’s nervous system, affects the secretory, motor, and absorption functions of the gastrointestinal tract, and is critical for carbohydrate metabolism. Vitamin B1 also takes part in tissue respiration and ATP formation. The daily requirement for children under 1 year is 0.5 mg.

Vitamin B1 is found in the following foods:

  • yeast
  • liver and brains
  • egg yolk
  • legumes
  • rye bread

Symptoms of vitamin B1 hypovitaminosis

  • sleep disorders
  • increased irritability
  • increased muscle sensitivity
  • general motor restlessness
  • muscle hypotonia
  • occasional loose stools and vomiting
  • slow weight gain (sometimes)
  • hypertension (in children under 3 years of age)
  • cardiospasm and pylorospasm in young children, which is detected by x-ray

Vitamin B2

Its second name is riboflavin. It takes part in carbohydrate metabolism, being a catalyst for respiration, and also participates in redox processes. Riboflavin in children's bodies reduces the excitability of the central nervous system. Children under 12 months should receive 0.6 mg of vitamin B2 per day.

Vitamin B2 is found in the following foods:

  • egg yolk
  • milk
  • liver
  • meat, fish
  • cottage cheese
  • yeast
  • legumes

Symptoms of vitamin B2 hypovitaminosis

  • cracks and ulcerations in the corners of the mouth
  • sebaceous plugs in the nasolabial folds and in the corner of the palpebral fissure
  • transverse lip fissures
  • smooth shiny tongue with atrophied papillae
  • red border on the lip line
  • dilatation of corneal vessels
  • palmar erythema
  • dermatitis on the skin of the face, ears, eyelids, nasolabial folds, wings of the nose

Vitamin PP

This vitamin in a child’s body is important for the motor and evacuation functions of the gastrointestinal tract. It takes part in the regulation of redox processes, promotes protein synthesis, is important for tissue respiration processes, and stimulates bone marrow functions. A child under 12 months needs 6 mg of vitamin PP per day.

Vitamin PP is found in the following products:

  • meat, liver
  • buckwheat
  • yeast
  • potato

Symptoms of vitamin PP hypovitaminosis

  • thickened red tongue with smoothed papillae
  • aphthous and ulcerative stomatitis
  • brittle nails
  • brown spots on the skin
  • long-lasting loose stools
  • tendency to flatulence due to an atonic state of the intestines

Vitamin B6

Also known as pyridoxine. It has a positive effect on the functioning of the liver and central nervous system, regulates protein metabolism and the accumulation of copper and iron in the blood, is important for heme synthesis, and takes part in fat metabolism. The daily requirement for children under 1 year is 0.5 mg.

Vitamin B6 is found in the following foods:

  • liver
  • yeast

Symptoms of vitamin B6 hypovitaminosis

  • increased excitability
  • slowing down weight gain
  • anxiety
  • loss of appetite
  • hypochromic macrocytic anemia
  • dry seborrheic eczema on the skin
  • malnutrition and growth retardation with long-term hypovitaminosis of vitamin B6.

Vitamin B9

The second name is folic acid. It stimulates erythropoiesis, leukopoiesis, participates in the synthesis of nucleic acids and proteins, improves the maturation of the central nervous system and tissue trophism. Up to 6 months, a child needs 40 mcg per day, and children from 6 to 12 months need 120 mcg.

Vitamin B9 is found in the following foods:

  • liver
  • vegetables (including beets)
  • cereals
  • legumes

Symptoms of vitamin B9 hypovitaminosis

  • growth slowdown
  • malnutrition
  • stomatitis
  • disruption of central nervous system maturation
  • gingivitis
  • glossitis
  • seborrheic dermatitis with hyperkeratosis
  • enteritis
  • macrocytic megaloblastic anemia (not in all cases)

Diagnosis of hypovitaminosis in children

It is often difficult to diagnose hypovitaminosis in children, since the symptoms described above may also indicate other diseases. Doctors, as a rule, identify the leading syndrome, collect anamnesis, and compare symptoms with information from biochemical studies. With all vitamin deficiencies, dystrophy develops - the growth and physical development of the child is impaired, the nervous system, mucous membranes, skin, respiratory organs, etc. are affected. Immunity is also impaired with any type of hypovitaminosis in the child.

When collecting anamnesis, the attending physician collects information about the nutrition of young children. He clarifies the amount of protein in the baby’s diet, since the absorption of vitamins C, B1, B2, B6, PP may be insufficient due to the small amount of protein that comes with food. It should also be taken into account that, as a result of the intensity of metabolic processes in young children, vitamin deficiency more often manifests itself in the form of polyhypovitaminosis.

Diagnosis of vitamin A deficiency in children

Conduct an analysis of the nutritional characteristics of the child or the population group in which he lives. The doctor analyzes the factors that lead to a lack of vitamin A. When diagnosing, he focuses on identifying xerophthalmia at any stage. The diagnosis is confirmed using electroretinography, dark adaptation and visual field studies, the use of vital dyes to detect the early stages of xerosis, corneal biomicroscopy, etc. Some biochemical methods are also relevant, but their value is limited. Direct determination of the vitamin in blood serum is used.

Diagnosis of vitamin C deficiency

The excretion of ascorbic acid in urine is determined. Stages II and III of scurvy in a child are indicated by typical symptoms: stomatitis, gingivitis, widespread petechial rashes, tooth loss, etc. Anamnesis is important. It is important to distinguish vitamin C hypovitaminosis from hemorrhagic diathesis in children. With the latter, there are significant changes in the blood coagulation system, but with vitamin C hypovitaminosis there are no changes. Hemorrhagic vasculitis is not characterized by massive hemorrhages in the muscles and joints, as well as severe gingivitis.

Treatment of hypovitaminosis in children

The basis of treatment is to introduce into the diet vitamins that the child lacks. It is best to do this not with the help of medications, but with the help of food products. There are certain substances in foods that make vitamins better absorbed by the body. Consuming vitamins with food is more physiological; foods also contain other nutrients in the transformation of which vitamins actively participate.

Food should be varied. Depending on the degree of hypovitaminosis, vitamins are prescribed orally, or in some cases by injection.

Vitamin preparations for the treatment of hypovitaminosis in children

There are preparations of individual vitamins and multivitamin preparations. Multivitamins contain several vitamins at once. Why are they important? A deficiency or excess of one vitamin affects the presence of others in the body.

Popular multivitamins:

  • Biovital kinder gel
  • Vitrum
  • Jungle
  • Complivit
  • Multi-tabs Baby
  • Undevit

You should not prescribe vitamin supplements to a child without consulting a doctor. Only the attending physician can prescribe the drug, prescribing the dose and course of administration. Otherwise, you can harm the baby’s body and provoke hypervitaminosis.

Forecast

Lethal outcomes in children with hypovitaminosis today can only occur in infants, who can die as a result of eclampsia that develops against the background of D deficiency, as well as with vitamin E deficiency, when sudden infant death syndrome is likely to develop.

But hypovitaminosis in children negatively affects the quality of life, reduces immunity, and becomes a risk factor for infections, cancer, and systemic organ damage.

Prevention of hypovitaminosis in children

Prevention of hypovitaminosis in a child is most often carried out in winter and spring, when the child’s body receives fewer vitamins with food due to a lack of fresh vegetables and fruits in the diet. On the table in spring and winter there should be green vegetables, fresh or sauerkraut. Dishes are fortified before being given to the child. Do not heat fortified foods.

Do vitamin drinks:

  • natural lemonade
  • fruit and vegetable drink made from apple peels, spinach and carrot juice
  • rosehip decoction
  • carrot juice
  • yeast drink made from rye bread crackers and yeast
  • wheat bran decoction

Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy governs the processing and use of personal and other data by the Vitaferon employee (website:) responsible for Users’ Personal Data, hereinafter referred to as the Operator.

By transferring personal and other data to the Operator through the Site, the User confirms his consent to the use of the specified data under the conditions set out in this Privacy Policy.

If the User does not agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy, he must stop using the Site.

Unconditional acceptance of this Privacy Policy is the start of use of the Site by the User.

1. TERMS.

1.1. Website - a website located on the Internet at the address: .

All exclusive rights to the Site and its individual elements (including software, design) belong to Vitaferon in full. The transfer of exclusive rights to the User is not the subject of this Privacy Policy.

1.2. User - a person using the Site.

1.3. Legislation - the current legislation of the Russian Federation.

1.4. Personal data - personal data of the User that the User provides about himself independently when sending an application or in the process of using the functionality of the Site.

1.5. Data - other data about the User (not included in the concept of Personal Data).

1.6. Submitting an application - filling out by the User the Registration form located on the Site, by indicating the necessary information and sending it to the Operator.

1.7. Registration form - a form located on the Site, which the User must fill out to submit an application.

1.8. Service(s) - services provided by Vitaferon on the basis of the Offer.

2. COLLECTION AND PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA.

2.1. The Operator collects and stores only those Personal Data that are necessary for the provision of Services by the Operator and interaction with the User.

2.2. Personal data may be used for the following purposes:

2.2.1. Providing Services to the User, as well as for information and consulting purposes;

2.2.2. User identification;

2.2.3. Interaction with the User;

2.2.4. Notifying the User about upcoming promotions and other events;

2.2.5. Conducting statistical and other research;

2.2.6. Processing of User payments;

2.2.7. Monitoring of the User's transactions in order to prevent fraud, illegal bets, and money laundering.

2.3. The operator processes the following data:

2.3.1. Last name, first name and patronymic;

2.3.2. Email address;

2.3.3. Mobile phone number.

2.4. The User is prohibited from indicating personal data of third parties on the Site.

3. PROCESSING PROCEDURE FOR PERSONAL AND OTHER DATA.

3.1. The Operator undertakes to use Personal Data in accordance with the Federal Law “On Personal Data” No. 152-FZ of July 27, 2006 and the Operator’s internal documents.

3.2. The User, by sending his personal data and (or) other information, gives his consent to the processing and use by the Operator of the information provided by him and (or) his personal data in order to carry out newsletters (about services of the Operator, changes made, promotions, etc. for an indefinite period, until the Operator receives a written notification by e-mail about the refusal to receive mailings. The User also gives his consent to the transfer, in order to carry out the actions provided for in this paragraph, by the Operator of the information provided by him and (or) his personal data to third parties if there is a properly concluded agreement between the Operator and such third parties.

3.2. With regard to Personal Data and other User Data, their confidentiality is maintained, except in cases where the specified data is publicly available.

3.3. The Operator has the right to store Personal Data and Data on servers outside the territory of the Russian Federation.

3.4. The Operator has the right to transfer Personal Data and User Data without the User’s consent to the following persons:

3.4.1. State bodies, including bodies of inquiry and investigation, and local government bodies upon their reasoned request;

3.4.2. Operator's partners;

3.4.3. In other cases directly provided for by the current legislation of the Russian Federation.

3.5. The Operator has the right to transfer Personal Data and Data to third parties not specified in clause 3.4. of this Privacy Policy in the following cases:

3.5.1. The user has expressed his consent to such actions;

3.5.2. The transfer is necessary as part of the User’s use of the Site or the provision of Services to the User;

3.5.3. The transfer occurs as part of the sale or other transfer of a business (in whole or in part), and all obligations to comply with the terms of this Policy are transferred to the acquirer.

3.6. The Operator carries out automated and non-automated processing of Personal Data and Data.

4. CHANGE OF PERSONAL DATA.

4.1. The User guarantees that all Personal Data is current and does not relate to third parties.

4.2. The User may change (update, supplement) Personal Data at any time by sending a written application to the Operator.

4.3. The user has the right to delete his Personal Data at any time; to do this, he just needs to send an email with a corresponding application to Email: Data will be deleted from all electronic and physical media within 3 (three) business days.

5. PROTECTION OF PERSONAL DATA.

5.1. The Operator ensures proper protection of Personal and other data in accordance with the Law and takes necessary and sufficient organizational and technical measures to protect Personal data.

5.2. The protection measures applied, among other things, make it possible to protect Personal Data from unauthorized or accidental access, destruction, modification, blocking, copying, distribution, as well as from other unlawful actions by third parties.

6. PERSONAL DATA OF THIRD PARTIES USED BY USERS.

6.1. Using the Site, the User has the right to enter data of third parties for their subsequent use.

6.2. The User undertakes to obtain the consent of the subject of personal data for use through the Site.

6.3. The Operator does not use personal data of third parties entered by the User.

6.4. The Operator undertakes to take the necessary measures to ensure the safety of personal data of third parties entered by the User.

7. OTHER PROVISIONS.

7.1. This Privacy Policy and the relationship between the User and the Operator arising in connection with the application of the Privacy Policy are subject to the law of the Russian Federation.

7.2. All possible disputes arising from this Agreement shall be resolved in accordance with the current legislation at the place of registration of the Operator. Before going to court, the User must comply with the mandatory pre-trial procedure and send the relevant claim to the Operator in writing. The period for responding to a claim is 7 (seven) working days.

7.3. If for one reason or another one or more provisions of the Privacy Policy are found to be invalid or unenforceable, this does not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions of the Privacy Policy.

7.4. The Operator has the right to change the Privacy Policy, in whole or in part, unilaterally at any time, without prior agreement with the User. All changes come into force the next day after they are posted on the Site.

7.5. The user undertakes to independently monitor changes in the Privacy Policy by familiarizing himself with the current version.

8. OPERATOR CONTACT INFORMATION.

8.1. Contact Email.