Pediatric vitamin B-1 deficiency (thiamine)
A child who doesn’t get enough of vitamin B-1 (thiamine) in their diet will likely develop a vitamin B-1 deficiency.
What is a pediatric vitamin B-1 deficiency (thiamine)?
Vitamin B-1 (also known as thiamine) is used by tissues throughout the body. This vitamin helps turn the foods a child eats into energy and is critical to your health. Vitamin B-1 deficiency is rare in the United States today.
What are the signs and symptoms of a pediatric vitamin B-1 deficiency (thiamine)?
Not getting enough vitamin B-1 can lead to a variety of serious problems with the body’s major systems. Signs and symptoms include:
Abnormal eye movements
Cognitive (thinking) problems
Decreased alertness
Difficulty breathing
Heart problems
Problems with memory
Problems with muscle coordination
Visual impairment
What are the causes of a pediatric vitamin B-1 deficiency (thiamine)?
When a child doesn’t get enough of this important vitamin from foods or supplements, deficiency can occur. Certain conditions or situations can make a child more susceptible to having a vitamin B-1 deficiency, such as:
Taking loop diuretics for congestive heart failure
Undergoing dialysis for kidney failure