Affiliations: Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Muğla
University, Muğla, Turkiye | Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Behçet Uz Child
Disease and Pediatric Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Izmir,
Turkiye | Department of Pediatric Neurology, Dr. Behçet Uz
Child Disease and Pediatric Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Izmir,
Turkiye
Note: [] Correspondence: Dr. Aycan Ünalp, Dr. Behçet Uz Child
Disease and Pediatric Surgery, Training and Research Hospital, 35320, Izmir,
Turkiye. Tel.: +232 2387097; Fax: +232 4892315; E-mail: aycanunalp@mynet.com
Abstract: Nutritional vitamin B12 deficiency in infancy is rare, and so far,
case reports or few case series declared. Neurological symptoms of vitamin B12
deficiency are heterogeneous and include irritability, apathy, developmental
regression, hypotonia, tremor, ataxia, seizures. We report of the clinical
findings and neurological abnormalities in fifteen infants with nutritional
vitamin B12 deficiency seen during the last 1 year and an attempt made to
obtain short-term neurologic follow-up. All of these cases were breastfed and
maternal diet was strict vegan or poor of meat. Clinical findings and
laboratory results normalized rapidly after vitamin B12 administration and
fifteen children who qualified for short-term neuromotor development had well
outcome. We emphasized here the early diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency is
very important because psychomotor and mental damage could be reversible with
appropriate treatment.
