Various Neurological Symptoms with Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Posttreatment Evaluation

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Neurology
• Nutritional Deficiencies

Background:

• Vitamin B12 deficiency is prevalent in children in developing nations due to inadequate dietary intake.
• Neurological symptoms are a common manifestation of vitamin B12 deficiency in pediatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the vitamin B12 status of pediatric patients presenting with neurological symptoms.
• To assess the clinical effectiveness of vitamin B12 treatment in this cohort.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis of 351 children with diagnosed vitamin B12 deficiency and neurological findings (January 2014 - October 2016).
• Treatment involved intramuscular or oral vitamin B12 for patients with serum levels below 300 pg/mL.

Main Results:

• The study included 351 pediatric patients, predominantly adolescents, with neurological symptoms and low vitamin B12 levels.
• Headache was the most frequent symptom in adolescents, while seizures and developmental delay were most common in infants.
• Serum vitamin B12 levels below 300 pg/mL were associated with neurological manifestations.

Conclusions:

• Prompt diagnosis and intervention for vitamin B12 deficiency are crucial to mitigate irreversible neurological sequelae in children.
• Vitamin B12 supplementation demonstrated clinical improvement in neurological symptoms for patients with low serum levels (<300 pg/mL).