Patient's question:
My child is already 5 months old and has been eating breast milk. Recently, I've noticed that he always sweats a lot and is very active. I don't know if this is a sign of calcium or zinc deficiency. I would like to ask experts what the specific symptoms of calcium or zinc deficiency in children are. In my child's case, is it late to supplement with calcium and zinc? Additionally, what kind of calcium and zinc is beneficial for absorption in children? Should they be taken separately or together? Which is better?Follow-up question: My son has recently been experiencing poor sleep at night, excessive daytime sleepiness, frequent waking at night, and irritability. I am currently supplementing him with zinc and calcium, taking gluconate calcium and zinc. I'm not sure whether to take them separately or together.
Doctor's answer:
Hello: This may be due to calcium deficiency.Below is some information for reference:
Infant calcium deficiency is actually primarily a lack of vitamin D, also known as rickets. Calcium deficiency in infants can manifest in three aspects: nervous system, skeletal system, and muscle system.
For mild calcium deficiency or in the early stages, the main symptoms are neurological, such as irritability, being difficult to manage, being stubborn, crying a lot, having a bad temper; sleep disturbances, such as difficulty falling asleep, night sweats, early waking, and crying after waking; excessive sweating unrelated to the weather, such as sweating even when it's not hot, wearing light clothing, or sweating when it's not supposed to; due to excessive sweating, the head itches, so infants may like to shake their heads or rub their heads when lying down. Over time, the hair on the back of the head may be worn off, forming a bald spot called "" (píng tū). These symptoms may exist to some extent before considering calcium deficiency. If only sweating is present, it cannot be diagnosed as calcium deficiency.
In severe calcium deficiency, neurological symptoms worsen, and convulsions may occur. At the same time, skeletal and muscle symptoms may appear, such as delayed fontanel closure, delayed teething, delayed standing and walking, as well as conditions like pigeon chest, hunchback, bowlegs, and muscle weakness.
Calcium deficiency is not only harmful in this way but also affects intelligence and can lead to a decline in immunity and resistance, making infants more prone to colds, fever, and diarrhea. Therefore, preventing and treating rickets during infancy is very important.