Vitamin B12 deficiency in a breast fed infant.

Abstract

We report the case of a 5 month old breast fed infant who presented with a history of vomiting, pallor, and failure to thrive. Investigations showed severe nutritional vitamin B12 deficiency with a megaloblastic pancytopenia. This deficiency was due to low vitamin B12 concentrations in the maternal breast milk, and subsequent investigations showed maternal pernicious anaemia. Treatment of the infant with vitamin B12 resulted in a rapid clinical and haematological improvement. This case represents an unusual presentation of pernicious anaemia.