Megaloblastic anemia in children: case series from a single institution and literature review

Folic acid and cobalamin are B-group vitamins that play an essential role in many cellular processes. Deficiency in one or both of these vitamins causes megaloblastic anemia, a very rare anemia in children, which is characterized by the presence of megaloblasts. Vitamin B12 deficiency can be caused by a low intake, decreased absorption, or impaired use. We present five cases of megaloblastic anemia that illustrate the onset of anemia at different ages and in different pathologies. We concluded that megaloblastic anemia is a rare anemia diagnosed in children, with multiple causes, occurring in the context of a vegetarian diet, or associated with an autoimmune disease, protein-calorie malnutrition of the mother during pregnancy and megaloblastic anemia of the mother associated with lack of substitution during pregnancy and during breastfeeding.