Allergy to vitamin D in infants: causes, symptoms, treatment

It is believed that vitamin D is especially beneficial for infants, as this biologically active substance ensures the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from food.

Most often, drugs with this vitamin are prescribed to babies for the prevention and treatment of rickets, but sometimes the need for their use arises in adults. Recently, many have noticed the appearance of allergies after using drugs with vitamin D.

Allergy Causes

True allergy to vitamin D is extremely rare, since this substance is not foreign to the human body. In most cases, a negative reaction from the immune system of newborns is provoked by the excipients that are part of such drugs. The most popular among pediatricians and parents is Aquadetrim, which contains vitamin D3. This solution contains potential allergens:

• sucrose;
• lemon acid;
• anise flavor;
• benzyl alcohol;
• Cremophor EL (macrogol glyceryl ricinoleate).

Somewhat less often, other drugs are prescribed that help to compensate for the deficiency of cholecalciferol, one of them is Oxydevit. Its main active ingredient is an analogue of vitamin D3 (alfacalcidol). In addition, this product contains an auxiliary component, ionol. Also, for the treatment or prevention of rickets in a child, the drug "Vigantol" can be prescribed. In addition to vitamin D3, it contains only triglyceride fats.

The child also often has an allergy to the Multi-Tabs Baby remedy, because vitamin D is not the only active ingredient in its composition. This drug includes many other biologically active and additional substances:

• vitamin A;
• ascorbic acid;
• sucrose;
• Cremophor EL;
• hydrochloric acid.

Sometimes babies are recommended to take ergocalciferol - vitamin D2. Previously it was thought that it is absorbed worse than vitamin D3, but the main difference between them is the form of release. Vitamin D3 and its analogs are usually available as aqueous solutions, while ergocalciferol is dissolved in oils. Dosing a drug made on an oil basis is more difficult than an aqueous solution. In this regard, ergocalciferol is not prescribed if there are diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or metabolic disorders on the background of renal or hepatic insufficiency.

Allergy or overdose?

Symptoms of an allergic reaction and overdose are very similar. Moreover, allergy to vitamin D in many cases is caused by excessive intake of this substance into the body. Often, parents do not even know about the reasons for an overdose in infants, and there may be several of them at once.

1. Self-change of the drug and the wrong dosing regimen for a long time. For example, one drop of Viganol contains about 670 IU of vitamin, and a drop of Aquadetrim contains 500 IU.
2. Taking vitamins by mom. Almost any substance that enters the body of a nursing woman can pass into breast milk, and then into the baby's digestive system.

1. Feeding with artificial formula. Manufacturers add vitamins to most nutritional mixtures, including cholecalciferol.

It must be remembered that in a child with chronic diseases, the excretion of the vitamin from the body occurs slowly, therefore, it partially accumulates. For such children, the dosage of any drugs should be selected with extreme caution.

Vitamin D allergy symptoms

Symptoms of vitamin D allergy usually occur a few hours or days after taking the drug, and disappear if you stop using it. The disease manifests itself as follows:

redness, peeling and rashes in the form of small blisters in the cheeks, neck, forearms, buttocks and legs of the child;

• insomnia and anxiety of the baby due to itching;
• decreased appetite;
• runny nose, sneezing and nasal congestion;
• lacrimation, redness of the eyes.

With a severe course of allergy to vitamin D, difficulty breathing, coughing, swelling of the face, hands and feet develops, and crying becomes hoarse. In the event of such symptoms, you should immediately call a doctor. If the disease is manifested by frequent regurgitation, vomiting, constipation or diarrhea, then there is a high probability of acute intoxication. Chronic overdose may be indicated by lethargy, sleep disturbance, increased irritability, too rapid closure of the large fontanelle and impaired renal function, which will be shown by urinalysis.

Allergy treatment and prevention

The first thing to do is to temporarily stop taking the drug. In case of severe allergy to vitamin D, the pediatrician may prescribe the intake of antihistamines by mouth ("Simprex", "Kestin", "Ksizal"). If Quincke's edema develops, the doctor uses systemic corticosteroids. To eliminate the symptoms of dermatitis, anti-inflammatory creams ("Bepanten", "Bubchen", "Epidel") are used. In order to relieve itching and reduce the rash, an ointment with an anti-allergic effect ("Fenistil-gel", "Advantan") can be used.

You should carefully choose creams for allergies, since many of them contain large doses of hormonal substances that are unsafe for children. To cleanse the body of protein molecules that cause a negative reaction, some doctors advise doing a cleansing enema.

Once the allergy symptoms have subsided, it makes sense to try other vitamin D supplements as needed. A good alternative can be regular fish oil or "Devisol", which contains only oil and alpha-tocopherol from excipients. If a nursing mother eats correctly and introduces complementary foods into the baby's diet in a timely manner, then the child's body will receive all the necessary substances. However, for the synthesis of vitamin D, regular exposure of the baby to the sun is necessary. To reduce your risk of developing a vitamin D allergy, follow certain guidelines.

1. Walk with your child every day, even in cloudy weather, a certain percentage of ultraviolet rays gets on the skin. If you live in an area where sunny weather is rare, try to spend your holidays in the southern regions.
2. As an alternative to drugs, heliotherapy or ultraviolet irradiation of children is carried out under a special lamp.
3. Choose drugs with a minimum amount of substances in the composition. The broader the list of ingredients, the more potential allergens there are in the medicine.
4. You should not give your baby multivitamin preparations without first consulting a specialist. The child's body does not always need all the substances that are there. In addition, the need to assimilate several vitamins at once can provoke the development of a negative reaction from the immune system.

1. Refuse taking vitamin D during pregnancy, unless there is a real need for it (indications of a gynecologist). Even a slight excess of this substance in the body of a pregnant woman can cause sensitization in the fetus and allergies in the future.

Remember that allergic reactions in children are often temporary, as the child's immunity continues to develop. After a few months, the allergy may disappear on its own. However, the appearance of pathological symptoms requires a mandatory visit to the pediatrician, especially if the child's condition does not improve.

Do not try to diagnose yourself, because taking vitamin preparations can be accompanied not only by allergies, but also by an overdose or side effects. Each of these conditions manifests itself in a similar way, and only a doctor can see the difference.