How do you know if your baby is calcium deficient?

We all know that calcium is an essential nutrient for our human body. If your body suddenly lacks calcium, you may feel uncomfortable and easily fatigued. So, at this time, you must not be careless. We must be extremely alert. Because calcium deficiency is quite serious. So, how do you know if your baby is calcium deficient? Let me tell you!

The following are the symptoms of calcium deficiency:

Pay attention to inquire about the history of chronic renal insufficiency, hyperthyroidism treated with surgery or radiotherapy, other thyroid and neck surgery, liver disease, intestinal malabsorption, insufficient intake, lack of light, multiple pregnancies, and long-term breastfeeding. Long-term use of antiepileptic drugs (such as primidone, phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, etc.) or protamine, heparin, and repeated transfusion of blood containing sodium citrate can all lead to hypocalcemia. In addition, the patient should be asked about the presence of tetany and paresthesias, as well as a history of bone calcification disorders.

The total calcium concentration used to diagnose hypocalcemia must be the corrected calcium concentration after correction for serum albumin, and the free calcium concentration can be measured if necessary. Corrected calcium concentration (mg/dl) = total calcium (mg/dl) - 0.8 × [4.0 - serum albumin concentration (g/dl)].

The cause of this disease can often be determined based on medical history, physical examination and laboratory tests (such as blood phosphorus, PTH, liver and kidney function, albumin, etc.). For example, most patients with low calcium, high phosphorus and normal renal function often have primary or secondary hypoparathyroidism; a history of surgery near the neck should raise suspicion of parathyroid damage; magnesium content, nutritional status, insufficient sunlight, massive blood transfusion, chemotherapy, acute pancreatitis, gastrointestinal lesions, medication history, whether there is vitamin D deficiency, and whether there are other endocrine abnormalities are all helpful for diagnosis.

Hypocalcemia often has no obvious clinical symptoms. The severity of clinical symptoms is not completely consistent with the degree of hypocalcemia, but is related to the speed and duration of hypocalcemia. A rapid drop in blood calcium, even at a level of 2 mmol/l, can cause clinical symptoms. The clinical manifestations of hypocalcemia are mainly related to increased neuromuscular excitability.

1. Neuromuscular system: Since calcium ions can reduce the excitability of neuromuscular system, the excitability of neuromuscular system increases in hypocalcemia. Muscle spasms may occur, and the early stage of peripheral nervous system numbness of fingers/toes. For mild cases, the facial nerve percussion test (Chvostek sign) or the arm pressure test (Trousseau sign) can be used to induce typical tics. Severe hypocalcemia can cause spasms of the larynx, wrists, feet, bronchi, etc., epileptic seizures and even respiratory arrest. Psychiatric symptoms such as irritability, depression, and cognitive impairment may also occur.

2. Cardiovascular system: mainly arrhythmias such as conduction block. In severe cases, ventricular fibrillation may occur. Heart failure may cause poor response to digitalis. The typical electrocardiogram shows a marked prolongation of the QT interval and ST segment.

3. Bones, skin and soft tissue: Chronic hypocalcemia may manifest as bone pain, pathological fractures, bone deformities, etc. Bone lesions can be osteomalacia, osteoporosis, rickets, osteitis fibrosa cystica, etc. depending on the underlying cause. Patients with chronic hypocalcemia often have dry, inelastic, dull and itchy skin; they are also prone to thinning hair, brittle nails and loose teeth. Cataracts caused by hypocalcemia are more common.

4. Hypocalcemic crisis: When the blood calcium level is lower than 0.88mmol/L (3.5mg/dl), severe voluntary muscle and smooth muscle spasms may occur, leading to convulsions, epileptic seizures, severe asthma, and severe symptoms may cause laryngeal muscle spasms leading to suffocation, heart failure, and cardiac arrest.

The above is the introduction about "How to know if the baby is calcium deficient", I hope you can accept it. Here, the editor wants to tell you that if you are calcium deficient. Don’t take calcium supplements blindly. What we need is a scientific and correct way to supplement calcium. Don't let calcium supplementation bring inconvenience to your body!