Symptoms of excess calcium in children
Symptoms of excess calcium in children
Contents
1 Calcium
2 Symptoms of excess calcium in children
3 causes of excess calcium in children
4 Treatment of excess calcium in children
5 Recommended amounts of calcium
6 functions of calcium in the body
7 References
Calcium
Calcium is one of the most important minerals in the human body.
The body stores 99% of the calcium it in the bones and teeth to maintain their strength.
As for the rest of it, it is found in the blood, muscles, and extracellular fluid.
And it has several very important roles in the body, including:
1- Secretion of hormones and enzymes
2- The transmission of nerve signals through the nervous system
3- Helping muscle contraction, and other functions
Where milk, cheese, yogurt, and nuts such as pistachios, sesame, almonds, and nuts are the most important sources of calcium.
Plus, figs, legumes, beans, spinach, and fortified breakfast cereals.
However, high levels of calcium in the blood more than the normal limit may cause weak bones.
And the formation of stones in the kidneys, due to the increased stress,
As it works doubly to get rid of excess calcium from the blood,
And other symptoms of excess calcium, which can affect all age groups,
This may happen because:
- First: Excessive intake of calcium and vitamin D supplements
- Second: Increase the activity of the parathyroid glands
- Third: Take some medications
- Fourth: Infection with some diseases or health problems, and many other reasons.
Symptoms of excess calcium in children
Symptoms of excess calcium in children appear when its concentration is 12 mg / dL in the body,
Also, these symptoms become constant when the blood calcium concentration reaches 15 mg / dL.
Among the symptoms that appear on children with high calcium:
1- Nervous system symptoms:
These include headaches, hallucinations, personality change, unsteady gait, feeling unwell (Malaise), irritability, and disorientation.
2- Digestive symptoms:
Such as intestinal paralysis, and it produces some symptoms, such as vomiting, nausea, cramps, constipation, loss of appetite,
And the symptoms of pancreatitis, including pain in the upper stomach area, vomiting, in addition to increased secretion of stomach acid, which leads to the emergence of symptoms of inflammation in it.
3- Renal symptoms:
These include kidney stones, or nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, which causes frequent urination and excessive thirst.
Also, increased calcium levels can cause kidney failure.
4- Symptoms of the musculoskeletal system:
Among the most important of these symptoms is the feeling of bone pain,
The child may also suffer from conjunctivitis, or itching due to the deposition of calcium salts in the tissues.
5- Other Symptoms:
Including congenital abnormalities, and in some rare cases, children may develop what is known as respiratory distresssyndrome, which is caused by high levels of calcium in the blood.
Causes of excess calcium in children
The causes of increased calcium levels in children vary according to their age groups.
In the following details:
First: Newborns:
Among the reasons for their infection with increased calcium levels:
The incidence of primary hyperparathyroidism.
Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia.
Giving infants a high dose of calcium supplements.
Suffering from Williams syndrome, which is associated with increased sensitivity to vitamin D.
Having secondary hyperparathyroidism.
Suffering from blue diaper syndrome, which is a defect in the intestine’s ability to transport tryptophan.
Second: Infants:
Infants can have an excess of calcium as a result of suffering from Subcutaneous fat necrosis.
This condition may cause blood calcium levels to rise dramatically and seriously affect babies from 1 to 6 months old.
Third: Children:
School-age children may have elevated calcium levels as a result of experiencing secondary hyperparathyroidism resulting from the growth of an adenoma or the formation of multiple endocrine neoplasias.
Treating calcium excess in children
Calcium excess in children is treated by providing the body with fluids, in order to increase its flow through the kidneys,
Thus reducing the level of calcium in the blood, which reduces the risk of kidney damage.
Diuretics can also be used.
Bisphosphate drugs are used in this case to inhibit bone breakdown.
The hormone calcitonin, which reduces calcium absorption, may also be given.
It is possible to treat increased vitamin D levels by using glucocorticoids that also reduce calcium absorption.
In the case of kidney problems, dialysis can be used to rid the body of toxins and excess calcium from the blood.
Calcium functions in the body
Calcium plays several roles in the human body, and we mention the following:
1- Promote bone health:
Calcium is essential for bone growth, strength, and maintenance.
It is worth noting that calcium continues to build and increase bone strength until the person reaches the age of 20-25 years.
At this age, the bones reach their highest density.
With age, its density begins to decrease.
Usually, people who did not get adequate amounts of calcium before the age of 20-25 years are more likely to develop osteoporosis in the future.
2- muscle contraction:
When nerves stimulate muscles, calcium is released, which helps proteins in the muscles to contract.
And when calcium is released from the muscle, it begins to expand again.
It is worth noting that the heart uses this mechanism for beating.
3- Blood clotting:
Calcium plays a role in the normal blood clotting process in humans.
Recommended amounts of calcium
The following table shows the permissible and recommended quantities of calcium for different age groups:
| Age group (years) | Recommended amounts of calcium (mg / day) |
| Children 1 – 3 | 700 |
| Children 4-8 | 1000 |
| Adolescents 9-18 | 1300 |
| Persons 19-50 | 1000 |
| Females 51-70 | 1200 |
| Males 51-70 | 1000 |
| People 71 years of age or over | 1,200 |
İmportant notice:
The content of the submitted articles, including all text, graphics, images, and other materials, is provided for educational purposes only.
The information provided is not a substitute for professional medical advice or professional diagnosis.
Moreover, the information on this website should not be taken as final medical advice in relation to any case or individual situation.
We strongly recommend that you always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health service provider with any questions you may have regarding any medical condition, your general health, or the health of your child.
References
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