Vitamin B12 deficiency: unusual cause of jaundice in an adolescent

Phalguna Kousika Katakam; Asha P Hegde; Manju Venkataramaiahyappa

doi:10.1136/bcr-2017-222302

Vitamin B₁₂ deficiency: unusual cause of jaundice in an adolescent

BMJ Case Rep. 2018 Jan 12:2018:bcr2017222302. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2017-222302.

Authors

Phalguna Kousika Katakam¹, Asha P Hegde², Manju Venkataramaiahyappa²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Paediatrics, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
² Department of Paediatrics, Melaka-Manipal Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Udupi, Karnataka, India.

Abstract

Vitamin B₁₂ deficiency in vegans is a known cause of megaloblastic anaemia. We report an adolescent girl who presented with jaundice and weight loss for 6 months secondary to vitamin B₁₂ deficiency, leading to megaloblastic anaemia. Replacement with vitamin B₁₂ reversed her symptoms, resulting in weight gain, and normalised her haemoglobin, red blood cell morphology, bilirubin levels and serum vitamin B₁₂ levels.

Keywords: childhood nutrition (paediatrics); vitamins and supplements.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Anemia, Megaloblastic / diet therapy*
Anemia, Megaloblastic / etiology
Anemia, Megaloblastic / physiopathology
Anemia, Megaloblastic / psychology
Diet, Vegetarian / adverse effects*
Directive Counseling
Female
Humans
Injections, Intramuscular
Jaundice / diet therapy*
Jaundice / physiopathology
Jaundice / psychology
Patient Compliance / psychology
Patient Education as Topic
Treatment Outcome
Vitamin B 12 / therapeutic use*
Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / complications
Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / diet therapy*

Substances

Vitamin B 12