Children need calcium to build strong bones and teeth, and it also helps prevent osteoporosis and rickets. Learn in this article about the causes and symptoms of calcium deficiency in children and infants and treatment methods.

The normal percentage of calcium in children

The natural percentage of calcium in children differs according to their age, as the percentage differs in newborns from that of children of an older age, and the percentages can be as follows:

Normal calcium levels in infants

During the first week of a full-fledged infant’s life, the calcium rate ranges between 1.75 to 3.00 mmol/L, while an incompletely developed infant has a calcium range of 1.5 to 2.5 mmol/L.

Normal calcium levels in older children

The ratio in children can be as follows:

• Children 10 days to 2 years old 2.3 to 2.65 mmol/L.
• Children: 2.2 to 2.7 mmol/L.

Symptoms of calcium deficiency in children

Signs of calcium deficiency in children vary depending on the age of the child and how low his calcium level is, as it may not appear Symptoms of calcium deficiency in newbornsWhile some symptoms can appear on older children, which are as follows:

Symptoms of calcium deficiency in infants

A number of symptoms appear on children who suffer from calcium deficiency, including:

• Insomnia
• Muscle cramps and pain.
• Shivering and tremor.
• Decreased heart rate.
• Epileptic seizures caused by a lack of oxygen reaching the brain.
• Unwillingness to breastfeed.

Calcium deficiency can cause low blood pressure in children.

Symptoms of calcium deficiency in older children

Among the most common symptoms that may appear in older children are the following:

• difficulty walking
• Difficulty using hands.
• Breathing difficulty.
• convulsions;
• bouts of irritability
• a state of nervousness
• skin dryness.
• dry hair
• Nail brittleness.
• Weakness in the teeth.

Causes of calcium deficiency in children

Most often, the level of calcium in the blood is low in babies who are not fully developed or who were born before full term. Common causes of calcium deficiency in infants include the following:

• Maternal diabetes.
• Low oxygen level in the body.
• Infection of the child with some kind of infection.
• Some types of medicine, such as gentamicin, can cause a decrease in the level of calcium in a child’s body.
• When feeding a baby cow’s milk or formula rich in phosphorous, it often causes a lack of calcium.
• Hypothyroidism is also a common cause of calcium deficiency.

Older children can develop a calcium deficiency due to a lack of vitamin D in the body, which can also lead to poor absorption of calcium by the body, or due to kidney problems and not getting enough calcium through the diet and various sources of calcium.

Treatment of calcium deficiency in children

Treatment is usually based on several factors, including the cause that led to the emergence of calcium deficiency in the first place, and the other is the extent of calcium deficiency that the child suffers from, so some cases may not need treatment, especially if the condition is mild while others need to take calcium supplements. Or they may need to get vitamin D pills. Consult a doctor about the appropriate medications and doses to treat children’s calcium deficiency.

Treatment of calcium deficiency in infants

Breastfeeding or formula milk for children helps provide many nutrients to the child, including calcium, in addition to the benefits of breastfeeding in strengthening the relationship between mother and child, and also avoid feeding the child cow’s milk in the early stages of his life.

The best medicine for the treatment of calcium deficiency in children

The doctor determines the appropriate type of calcium pills that your child needs in order to get rid of calcium deficiency. Infants who suffer from calcium deficiency may need to receive an intravenous injection containing calcium in order to restore normal levels in the body.

And now, dear reader, after you have learned about the causes and symptoms of calcium deficiency in children and infants, and have learned about the methods of treatment, consult your doctor to find out the appropriate treatment and the appropriate dose for your child, with my best wishes for continued health for all mothers and children.