Anemia, vitamin B12, folic acid and iron deficiency in children who can not feed themselves due to neurological disease

Sum mary Aim: To evaluate malnutrition, anemia and related deficiency of vitamin B12, iron and folic acid in children with neurological disease and related nutritional problems. Material and Method: In this study, our aim was to investigate anemia and possible reasons such as iron deficiency, folic acid deficiency and vitamin B12 deficiency among patients with nutritional problems who were admitted to Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University, Faculty of Medicine, Outpatient and Service of Pediatric Neurology between June 2010 and December 2010. The study involved a total of 50 patients (30 male and 20 female). A control group including 30 boys and 20 girls was included in the study as well. Complete blood count, iron, folic acid and vitamin B12 values were studied. Results: A total of 39 patients (78%) had malnutrition; among malnutrition patients 16 (32%) had severe malnutrition, 18 (36%) had moderate malnutrition and five (10%) had mild malnutrition. A total of 22 patients (44%) had anemia, iron deficiency, folic acid deficiency or vitamin B12 deficiency alone or in combination. Nine of 22 patients (18%) had iron deficiency anemia, four (8%) had iron deficiency, five (10%) had folic acid deficiency, one (2%) had folic acid deficiency macrocytic anemia, six (12%) had anemia of chronic disease, two (4%) had B12 deficiency, four (8%) had both iron deficiency anemia and folic acid deficiency. Conclusions: In our patients with neurological disease, nutritional deficiencies and anemia were found to be quite frequent. These patients should get a special care for nutrition and should be checked periodically for anemia and nutritinal parameters. (Turk Arch Ped 2012; 47: 197-201)