Severe Megaloblastic Anaemia in an Infant

• Author(s): Rodrigues, V ; Dias, A ; Brito, MJ ; Galvão, I ; Cordeiro Ferreira, G
• Date: 2011
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.17/1553
• Origin: Repositório do Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central, EPE
• Subject(s): Vitamina B 12; Anemia Megaloblástica; Criança; HDE PED
• Document Type: Article
• Language: English

Description

Vitamin B 12 or cobalamin deficiency, a rare clinical entity in pediatric age, is found most exclusively in breastfed infants, whose mothers are strictly vegetarian non-supplemented or with pernicious anaemia. In this article, the authors describe a 10-month-old infant admitted for vomiting, refusal to eat and prostration. The infant was exclusively breastfed and diffi culties in introduction of new foods were reported. Failure to thrive since 5 months of age was also noticed. Laboratory evaluation revealed severe normocytic normochromic anaemia and cobalamin defi cit. A diagnosis of α-thalassemia trait was also made. Maternal investigation showed autoimmune pernicious anaemia. This case shows the severity of vitamin B 12 deficiency and the importance of adopting adequate and precocious measures in order to prevent potentially irreversible neurologic damage.