Vitamin B12 is used by the body to form red blood cells and keep the nervous system working properly. Our bodies typically get the vitamin B12 we need from foods, such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy products and fortified cereals. Children who do not consume enough foods containing B12, such as vegetarians or breastfeeding infants of vegetarians, are at risk of developing vitamin B12 deficiency. In addition, children with certain gastrointestinal disorders, such as Crohn's disease or celiac disease, may not be able to absorb the vitamin B12 they need from the foods they eat. Vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms are similar in children and adults, but some symptoms are limited to infants.
Infant Symptoms
According to the National Institutes of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements, breastfed infants of vegetarian mothers may develop vitamin B12 deficiency within months of birth, even if the mothers consume eggs and dairy products. If left untreated, this deficiency can lead to neurological damage. Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency in infants include failure to thrive, developmental delays, movement disorders and anemia. Vegetarian women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should contact their physicians to discuss the potential need for vitamin B12 supplements for themselves as well as their children.
Anemia
Over time, an untreated vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to anemia. According to MedlinePlus, vitamin B12 deficiency anemia is a condition in which the body doesn't have enough of the healthy red blood cells it needs to provide oxygen to the tissues. While some children with anemia may have no symptoms at all, others may experience weakness, faintness, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, fatigue, diarrhea, loss of appetite, difficulty concentrating, pale skin, constipation and a swollen, red tongue or bleeding gums.
Children who lack dietary vitamin B12 are typically prescribed oral vitamin supplements and told to improve their diets. But children suffering from a medical condition in which they cannot absorb vitamin B12 may require regular vitamin B12 injections.
Neurological Changes
If left untreated, vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to nerve damage. Neurological symptoms include numbness and tingling of the hands and feet, loss of balance, depression, confusion and poor memory. Children may experience these symptoms with or without accompanying symptoms of anemia.
According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, early diagnosis and treatment of neurological changes due to vitamin B12 deficiency is essential, as irreversible damage may occur if the condition is not treated soon enough. Children displaying any symptoms of a B12 deficiency should be evaluated by a physician and treated as necessary with supplemental vitamin B12 to avoid irreversible complications.
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