Neurological manifestations of vitamin B12 deficiency in 15 infants

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.