Pediatric Multivitamin Preparations
Key Points
- Essential for growth, development, and metabolism
- Both preventive and therapeutic roles in pediatric care
- Age-specific requirements must be considered
- Available in various formulations: drops, syrups, chewable tablets
Common Indications
- Preterm infants
- Exclusive breastfeeding
- Malnutrition
- Chronic diseases
- Restricted diets
- Poor feeding habits
Preventive Supplementation Guidelines
Vitamin D
- Dosage: 400 IU daily for all infants
- Start within days of birth for breastfed infants
- Continue until weaned to vitamin D-fortified formula/milk
Iron
- Term infants: 1 mg/kg/day from 4 months
- Preterm infants: 2-4 mg/kg/day from 2 weeks of age
- Continue until 12 months of age
Vitamin K
- Single IM dose at birth: 0.5-1.0 mg
- Oral regimen if parents refuse IM: 2 mg at birth, 1 week, 1 month
Therapeutic Supplementation
Multivitamin Preparations
- Poly-Vi-Sol: Complete multivitamin drops
- Tri-Vi-Sol: Vitamins A, D, and C only
- Vi-Daylin: Chewable tablets for older children
Specific Deficiency Treatment
- Vitamin B12: 250-1000 μg IM for severe deficiency
- Vitamin A: 50,000-200,000 IU based on age for xerophthalmia
- Zinc: 20 mg daily for 10-14 days for diarrhea
Special Conditions
Malnutrition
- High-dose vitamin A
- Folic acid supplementation
- Iron after infection treatment
- Zinc supplementation
Chronic Diseases
- Cystic Fibrosis: Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K)
- Celiac Disease: Iron, folate, B12, zinc, vitamin D
- IBD: Iron, vitamin D, zinc, vitamin B12
Monitoring
- Regular serum vitamin D levels
- CBC for iron status
- Clinical signs of deficiency
- Growth parameters
Further Reading
