Hypocalcemia: How to Care for Your Child

Hypocalcemia means low levels of calcium in the bloodstream. In children, hypocalcemia is caused by several different conditions and diseases. Most symptoms go away with treatment.

Calcium is a nutrient needed to build strong bones and keep the muscles, brain, and nervous system working properly. When a person doesn't have enough calcium in the bloodstream, it's called hypocalcemia. Symptoms may include muscle spasms, seizures, weakness, and breathing problems.

Hypocalcemia can be due to:

• vitamin D deficiency (vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium), which can also cause rickets, a bone-softening disease that can cause severe bowing of the legs, poor growth, and muscle pain and weakness

• problems the body has producing or responding to parathyroid hormone, a chemical that helps balance the amount of calcium in the blood

• kidney diseases, chronic illnesses, and an inherited disorder in which the cells have trouble responding to calcium

Children may be born with genetic diseases that cause hypocalcemia, or develop a condition that causes it later in childhood. Infants may develop a temporary form of hypocalcemia if they are born prematurely; are ill at birth; or if their mothers have vitamin D deficiency, diabetes, disease of the parathyroid glands, or have been taking certain medications.

Health care providers diagnose hypocalcemia and the diseases that cause it with blood and urine tests that measure levels of calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D, parathyroid hormone, and other substances in the body. X-rays and other imaging studies, an electrocardiogram (ECG), and genetic tests might be done in some cases to diagnosis an underlying disease or guide treatment.

Calcium and vitamin D are the most common treatments for hypocalcemia. These supplements are usually taken by mouth, but sometimes the health care team may need to give the first few doses of calcium directly into the bloodstream.

• Give your child any prescribed medicines or supplements as directed.

• Do not stop giving the supplements to your child unless directed to do so by your health care provider.

• If your child is prescribed calcium, give it with food or a citrus drink (like orange juice). This helps the body absorb it.

• To make sure that the treatment is working, the health care provider may ask you to collect a timed urine sample at home to be tested for calcium and other substances. Depending on the results of blood and urine tests, the health care provider may adjust your child's medication.

Your child:

• Urinates (pees) more often and in larger amounts than usual.

• Is thirstier than usual.

• Has nausea or vomiting.

• Has frequent or severe constipation.

• Has trouble concentrating.

• Feels weak or low on energy.

Your child:

• Loses consciousness.

• Has a seizure.

• Is having trouble breathing.