Vitamin B12 deficiency-induced megaloblastic anemia in a pediatric patient with autism spectrum disorder with a chronically unbalanced diet

We report the case of an 11-year-old boy with ASD who developed megaloblastic anemia due to vitamin B12 deficiency. He had a prolonged history of selective eating for more than 10 years. His nutritional status on admission was poor, and he had low weight and short stature. His food selectivity was so strong that intervention to expand diet variety was unsuccessful. A developmental-behavioral pediatrician found that the patient had visual dominance and could take some medications when suffering from a minor illness. Nutritional supplements were selected after consultation with a nutritionist. Although compulsory treatment was necessary during the acute phase, the therapy was continued at home. With multidisciplinary intervention tailored to the patient and his parents' characteristics, his nutritional status improved in a few months.PMID:38526684 | DOI:10.1007/s12185-024-03759-3
Source: International Journal of Hematology - Category: Hematology Authors: Source Type: research