Patient's question:
My child is 9 years old and will be 18 soon. I wonder if it is possible to receive intravenous calcium supplementation?Past treatment history and effectiveness: The child had surgery for pyloric stenosis at birth. Currently, they are less than 1.3 meters tall and do not eat much for dinner, which seems to indicate poor absorption. I am unsure if they are calcium-deficient.
The kind of help I am seeking: It is said that intravenous calcium supplementation can promote growth. I would like to ask if this is applicable in this case.
Doctor's answer:
Under normal circumstances, it is possible to obtain sufficient calcium through diet. However, when the demand for calcium increases, it is generally necessary to adjust the intake accordingly. This applies to pregnant women, individuals in the growth and development stage, middle-aged and elderly populations, and those experiencing calcium deficiency symptoms. Therefore, in the aforementioned cases, it is recommended that you do not need to receive intravenous calcium injections as long as calf twitching does not recur. As a general principle, it is best to avoid medication if possible, and if medication is necessary, it is preferable to use oral forms rather than injections. Therefore, for the above situations, it is suggested to take calcium supplements orally, drink more milk, and consume bone broth or soy products, among others.