Assessing the Frequency of Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Pediatric Anemia: A Descriptive Study

Background: The overall contribution of vitamin B12 deficiency to the global burden of anemia in infants and children is probably higher. Early identification of B12 deficiency will result in their timely management and prevention of a lot of consequences, including social and economic burden. Objective: To determine the frequency of vitamin B12 deficiency in pediatric patients admitted with anemia in a public sector tertiary care hospital. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at the department of pediatrics, Fazaia Ruth Pfau Medical College during the period of three months from October 2024 to December 2024. All patients of either gender aged 6 months to 3 years of age (sample size=129) who were admitted to the pediatric ward with anemia were enrolled. A serum vitamin B12 level greater than 300 pg/mL was considered normal. Levels falling between 200 and 300 pg/mL were classified as borderline, whereas Vitamin B12 levels below 200 pg/mL indicated a deficiency. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 23. Results: Of 129 patients, the mean age was 1.96 ±0.69 years. Gender distribution showed 67 (51.9%) males and 62 (48.1%) females. The mean weight of the patients was 13.68 ±3.15 kg. The mean vitamin B12 level of the patients was 245.09 ±69.06 picogram per ml. The frequency of vitamin B12 level deficiency was found to be 47 (36.4%). Conclusion: The frequency of vitamin B12 deficiency was found considerably higher in pediatric patients admitted with anemia, in a tertiary care Hospital.