Symptoms of hypocalcemia are common in infants

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Nguyen Thi An - Pediatrician - Neonatologist - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Ha Long International General Hospital.
Newborns are always the top object of care and care, any parent wants their child to grow up healthy and free of any diseases. However, due to objective and subjective reasons, neonatal hypocalcaemia can occur at any time.

1. The importance of calcium for infant development

Calcium plays an important role in the development of bones and teeth, especially in infants. If there is a lack of calcium, the child's development will be severely affected, causing the baby to have rickets, slow growth, uneven and weaker teeth, and more prone to tooth decay.
Not only affects bones and teeth, calcium also affects nerve conduction, especially brain development, helps regulate heart rate and plays an important role in blood clotting.
If not providing enough calcium for children, hypocalcemia in newborns will occur and cause a type of serious complications affecting the health of children, even death such as muscle cramps, stunting. bones, and many other diseases.

2. Why can hypocalcemia in children occur?

The following are the causes of hypocalcemia in infants:
Children do not get regular sunbathing or sunbathe incorrectly, leading to vitamin D deficiency leading to ineffective calcium absorption. The mother in the process of breastfeeding does not add enough nutrients, especially calcium, leading to the child not being able to absorb calcium through breast milk The child has congenital thyroid defects During the reproductive process, the child has Asphyxiation due to lack of oxygen Some children have sequelae because the mother during pregnancy has gestational diabetes or pregnancy poisoning ... Low levels of albumin, blood magnesium.

3. Common manifestations of hypocalcemia in infants

Although calcium is mainly found in bones and teeth, very little is left in the blood, but they play a very important role. If the amount of calcium in the blood drops severely, the child's body almost stops working, convulsions occur and if not treated promptly, hypocalcemia will be dangerous to the child's life.
Parents need to know the manifestations of hypocalcemia in children in general and in infants in particular so that they can respond promptly if this happens: The child is crying, refuses to eat or suck, or Dozed off and easily startled Children are less active or sluggish, breathing harder, grinding their teeth, and sometimes having trouble breathing. Muscle cramps occur, if more severe, convulsions, tremors, or seizures. Children's hair falls out in the form of a turban at the nape of the neck, this is a typical sign to recognize hypocalcemia in infants Increased tendon reflexes: Parents can check by performing the chvostek sign by tapping on it. 2cm in front of the outer ear ridge and observe the baby's facial muscles, if you see muscle contractions in the facial areas, it shows that the child may have hypocalcemia, it is necessary to take the child to the doctor to check more clearly.

4. Prevention and treatment of hypocalcemia in children

The principle of hypocalcaemia treatment is to supplement calcium deficiency by methods such as intravenous infusion, injection or orally. If hypocalcemia in children occurs due to various medical conditions, after the child's condition stabilizes, the doctor will continue to treat those underlying conditions.
Hypocalcemia in children in general and infants in particular, if detected and treated early, will not have too much influence on the child's development. However, parents should pay attention to the following preventive measures to help minimize hypocalcemia that may happen to their children:
At different ages, the amount of calcium you need to supplement for The body will also be different, so parents can consult a pediatrician or nutritionist about the child's diet to supplement the necessary nutrients, including: calcium.
For infants, the main source of calcium comes from breast milk, so the mother also needs to pay attention to adequate calcium intake through diet. Should eat calcium-rich foods such as milk or dairy products, egg yolks, grains, vegetables with dark green color.
Every day, children should sunbathe properly from 3 to 10 minutes before 9 am and after 3 pm, sunbathing will help the body synthesize vitamin D, which is a transmitter that helps the body absorb calcium better.
Do not arbitrarily let children use drugs or calcium supplements without consulting a doctor, excess calcium supplements also cause bad consequences for children.

In particular, children should be examined periodically, if there are abnormal signs, they can be promptly treated. The pediatric department at Vinmec International General Hospital is the address for receiving and examining diseases that infants and young children are susceptible to: viral fever, bacterial fever, otitis media, hypocalcemia, pneumonia in children,... With a system of modern facilities, medical equipment, sterile space, minimizing the impact as well as the risk of disease spread, Vinmec will bring satisfaction For customers and highly appreciated by industry experts with:
Gathering a team of leading doctors and nurses in Pediatrics: including leading experts with high professional qualifications (professors, associate professors, etc.) , doctorate, master), rich experience, worked at big hospitals like Bach Mai, 108.. The doctors are well-trained, professional, have a heart - reach, understand young psychology . In addition to domestic pediatric specialists, the Department of Pediatrics also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) who are always pioneers in applying the latest and most effective treatment regimens. . Comprehensive services: In the field of Pediatrics, Vinmec provides a series of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatric and Vaccine,... according to international standards to help parents take care of their baby's health from birth to childhood. Advanced techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery - skull, stem cell transplant blood in cancer treatment. Professional care: In addition to understanding children's psychology, Vinmec also pays special attention to the children's play space, helping them to play comfortably and get used to the hospital's environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical treatment.

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