Calcium Deficiency in Child and Food

Written by: Muhammad Arif Rahimi

Deficiency in Child and FoodCalcium is the most common mineral in the body. Around 99 percent of the calcium in the body is found in the bones or skeleton; the rest is in teeth, soft tissues, and blood. What are the symptoms of the lack of calcium (hypocalcemia) in children? AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some people about this disease.

Sayed Rahim, a resident of Laghman province says, “I am the father of 7 children. My two sons are suffering from calcium deficiency. They could not walk well; their nails and teeth always break and some white spots appeared on their faces and these two children do not grow normally.”

A third-grade student, Muhammad Karim says, “I am 10 years old and I suffer from feet and bone ache.”

Doctor Nisar Ahmad Naimi, a pediatrician at Maidan-Wardak provincial hospital talks about the symptoms of this disease, “Newborn children with calcium deficiency are always crying; they could not breastfeed and they are suffering from vomiting too. Children with calcium deficiency are snoring; their nails and teeth are breaking and they might have pain in their fingers. If not treated on time, they would face bone pain; bone flexion; and they might face osteogenesis imperfect (bone disorder) and their bone might fracture easily.”

What do people think about the causes of this disease?

Rahmani, a resident of Mahmood Raqi, center of Kapisa province says, “Having so many children causes mothers not to pay more attention to all of them and the children might suffer from calcium deficiency.”

A mother, Amarkhail, a resident of Maidan-Wardak province says, “Many mothers do not eat calcium-rich foods during pregnancy and they do not feed their children with such foods either and as a result, their children face with calcium deficiency.”

Doctor Naimi says, “The rooms that do not have sunlight might cause the deficiency of calcium in the children; not eating calcium-rich foods; taking carbonated drinks and potato chips cause the lack of calcium in children. The lack of vitamin D in the body also causes calcium deficiency.”

How do people treat this disease?

Orzala, a resident of Kabul city says, “My nephew was suffering from the lack of calcium. The doctor advised us to feed him with dairies; eggs and bean and now he is recovered.”

Najeebullah Rahmani, the principal of Mahmood Raqi High School says, “One of my children was suffering from the lack of calcium. I cultivate vegetables such as radish, onion, coriander, spinach, and leeks in my land and we all eat them. We also eat dairies and other liquids and my child who was suffering from calcium deficiency is recovered now.” 

Doctor Naimi says, “The child who suffers from hypocalcemia must be taken to the doctor for essential treatment. Such children must be laid down under sunlight for a few minutes. They should be fed with yogurt, cheese, milk and vegetables, bean, and boiled eggs.”