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Lessons to be learned: a case study approach

Vitamin B12 deficiency of nutritional origin

Consultant Chemical Pathologist Department of Chemical Pathology East Surrey Hospital Redhill Surrey and Crawley Hospital Crawley West Sussex

The case is presented of a 14 year old boy who developed severe anaemia at the onset of puberty caused by nutritional deficiency of vitamin B₁₂ of about 10 years duration. The dietary intake comprised mainly chips, ice-cream, fruit and Coca-Cola - with small amounts of vitamin B ₁₂ from occasional slices of chicken meat. His denial of abnormal nutritional intake, supported by his mother, delayed confirmation of the correct diagnosis. However, the true situation was eventually confessed - and following implementation of a normal diet he rapidly improved clinically, the haemoglobin value rose to normal and he subsequently remained well.

Key Words: Anaemia • deficiency • denial • nutrition • vitamin B12

The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health, Vol. 117, No. 5, 310-312 (1997)
DOI: 10.1177/146642409711700508


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