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A New Case of Association of Megaloblastic Anemia and Pancytopenia of Infants

H Bennani, A El Ouarradi, H Lazrek

    Clinical Laboratory
    |October 16, 2023
    PubMed

    Insights

    Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause megaloblastic anemia in exclusively breastfed infants. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for infant development and recovery.

    Area of Science:

    • Pediatric Hematology
    • Nutritional Deficiencies
    • Infant Health

    Background:

    • Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) deficiency is rare in infants but can occur in exclusively breastfed infants of vegetarian mothers.
    • Megaloblastic anemia in infants may manifest as irritability and generalized weakness.

    Observation:

    • A nine-month-old exclusively breastfed infant presented with irritability, developmental delay, and feeding difficulties.
    • Initial blood work revealed pancytopenia, with low Vitamin B12 levels in both the infant and mother.

    Findings:

    • The infant was diagnosed with Vitamin B12 deficiency leading to megaloblastic anemia.
    • Treatment involved addressing the deficiency, resulting in normalized hematological parameters and developmental progress.

    Implications:

    • Highlights the importance of considering Vitamin B12 deficiency in the differential diagnosis of anemia in exclusively breastfed infants.
    • Emphasizes the need for maternal nutritional assessment and timely intervention to prevent severe infant health outcomes.
    Abstract

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