B12 Deficiency in a Breastfed Infant Due to Maternal B12 Deficiency: A Case Report

Abstract

We report a case of eight-month-old breastfed male infant presented with developmental delay and knuckle pigmentation. Peripheral smear examination showed microcytic hypochromic anaemia. Knuckle pigmentation has given a clue for vitamin B12 deficiency and got confirmed by detailed biochemical investigations. On examination mother was found to be vitamin B12 deficient who also presented with knuckle pigmentation. Subsequently the infant was administered oral vitamin B12 and responded to the therapy as indicated by weight gain, improvement in development, normalisation of serum B12 and blood haemoglobin level.

Keywords

• developmental delay
• knuckle pigmentation
• red cell indices