Every child needs proper nutrients in their bodies at an early growth stage. To develop a healthy body, immune system, and healthy mind. When food is ingested, digested, and absorbed by the body through the digestive system, it provides the energy the body needs to perform various essential functions and thus promotes proper body growth.
The food consumption habits of children have changed during the last few decades. Currently, many children consume food that is high in fat, especially saturated fats, and artificially sweetened beverages. These types of foods do not have enough nutrients to support healthy growth.
Instead, foods like fruits, vegetables, and dairy products have all the necessary vitamins, minerals, and proteins required by the body for proper functioning.
This document will discuss some signs/symptoms of nutritional deficiencies that are common with kids and may be visually identified by parents, especially after going through this article.
Symptoms of calcium deficiency.
A deficiency of calcium can lead to a condition called ‘rickets’ in kids. Bones become soft and weak, showing deformed growth, including bowed legs or curvature of the spine. Other symptoms include dry skin, brittle nails, muscle cramps tingling in the fingers and toes, deformed tooth or weakened tooth enamel, etc.
Symptoms of iron deficiency.
A deficiency of iron can lead to a condition called anemia. Common symptoms of anemia are pale skin, fatigue, cold hands and feet, slow body growth and development, poor appetite, abnormally rapid breathing, behavioral problems, frequent infections, Smooth and shiny tongue, etc.
Symptoms of zinc deficiency.
Symptoms of zinc deficiency may include a change in skin tone that looks like eczema, blurry vision, improper nail growth, emotional imbalance, slow wound healing, loss of appetite, repeated infections, change in taste and smell, hair loss, weight loss, etc.
Symptoms of magnesium deficiency.
Symptoms of magnesium deficiency in kids may lead to poor mental concentration, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, sleep disorder, hyperactivity, muscle cramps, restlessness, teeth grinding, sensitivity to noise, etc.
Symptoms of potassium deficiency.
Symptoms of potassium deficiency in children may include symptoms like weakness, confusion, feeling tired all the time, constipation, inactive behavior, numbness, abnormal heartbeat (arrhythmia), increased urination pattern, etc.
Symptoms of protein deficiency.
Common signs of protein deficiency in kids include slow growth, low height-to-weight ratio, constant hunger, fatigue, lower immunity, poor concentration, and slow wound healing, etc.
Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency.
Vitamin D deficiency commonly includes bone and joint pain, especially in the lower limb long bones that seldom wake up the child from sleep, delay in walking, excessive aggression, deformed bones, feeling tired or depressed and impaired memory functioning, etc.
Symptoms of vitamin C deficiency.
Frequent symptoms of vitamin C deficiency include swollen and bleeding gums, touchiness and moody behavior, loss of appetite, dry cork-screw-like hair, easy bruising, frequent digestive disorders, nose bleeds, swollen joints, etc.
Symptoms of vitamin A deficiency.
Vitamin A deficiency indicators are night blindness or unable to see in low light, dry eyes, temporary blindness, frequent infections, corneal ulceration, stunt growth, skin irritation, scaly skin, corneal melting, etc.
Symptoms of Iodine deficiency.
The symptoms may include swollen thyroid glands, excessive weight gain, thin hair, weakness, slow heart rate, increased sensitivity to cold, constipation, poor memory functioning, puffy eyes, elevated blood cholesterol, etc.
Nutrient deficiency is common among kids due to more frequent use of junk food and other changing eating habits. If you observe one or more symptoms described above in your child or any that's not been discussed, the best practice would be to pay a visit to a doctor and get your child checked for proper treatment.
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