Hyperpigmentary disorders are commonly encountered group of dermatoses in the paediatric age group. One of the most common causes of progressive generalised hyperpigmentation in paediatric population is nutritional vitamin B12 deficiency (NVBD). NVBD can present with a bunch of signs and symptoms like skin hyperpigmentation, pallor and regression of neurodevelopment. We report a case of a plump looking 13 months old, girl child from non-consanguineous marriage of low socioeconomic family who presented with generalised hyperpigmentation, failure to thrive and regression of mile stones. Physical examination revealed anaemia and sparse, thin, lustreless hair with dull, apathetic look. A differential diagnosis of Addison’s disease, hypothyroidism, and neurodegenerative disease, was considered based on clinical suspicion. She was further investigated by a paediatrician. Her blood investigations revealed low levels of Vitamin B12 (159 pg/dl) and haemoglobin (2.6 g/dl). On radiological examination, NCCT brain showed cortical atrophy. A final diagnosis of Infantile Tremor Syndrome (ITS) was made. ITS is a rare condition which presents with cutaneous manifestation like hyperpigmentation, scanty scalp hair along with lethargy, apathy along with signs and symptoms of neurodegeneration. Progressive cutaneous hyperpigmentation in a child can present as early marker of a rare neurodegenerative condition like ITS.
Published in | American Journal of Pediatrics (Volume 7, Issue 3) |
DOI | 10.11648/j.ajp.20210703.25 |
Page(s) | 170-173 |
Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Infantile Tremor Syndrome, Neurodegenerative Disease, Addison’s Disease, Hypothyroidism, Inborn Error of Metabolism
[1] | Dikshit AK. Nutritional dystrophy with anaemia. Indian J Child Health. 1957; 6: 132-6. |
[2] | Gupte S, Pal M, Gupta SK, Sangra KR. Infantile tremor syndrome [ITS] In: Gupte S, Editor. Textbook of paediatric nutrition. New Delhi: Peepee; 2006: 255-265. |
[3] | Gupte S. Infantile tremor syndrome. In: Gupte S, ed. The Short Textbook of Paediatrics, 10th ed. New Delhi; Jaypee Brothers. 2004: 716-9. |
[4] | Goraya JS, Kaur S, Mehra B. Neurology of nutritional vitamin B12 deficiency in infants. Case series from India and literature review. J Child Neurol. 2015; 30: 1831-1837. |
[5] | Korenke GC, Hunneman DH, Eber S, Hanefeld F. Severe encephalopathy with epilepsy in an infant caused by subclinical maternal pernicious anemia: case report and review of the literature. Eur J Pediatr. 2004; 163: 196-201a. |
[6] | Incecik F, Herguner MO, Altunbasak S, Leblebisatan G. Neurological findings of nutritional vitamin B12 deficiency in children. Turk J Pediatr. 2010; 52: 17-21. |
[7] | Oh R, Brown DL. Vitamin B12 deficiency. Am Fam Physician 2003; 67 (5): 979-86. |
[8] | Jadhav M, Webb JKG, Vaishnava S, Baker SJ. Vitamin B12 deficiency in Indian infants. Lancet. 1962; 1: 903-990. |
[9] | Johnson PR, Roloff JS. Vitamin B12 deficiency in an infant strictly breast-fed by a mother with latent pernicious anemia. J Pediatr. 1982; 100: 917-919. |
[10] | Higginbottom MC, Sweetman L, Nyhan WL. A syndrome of methylmalonic aciduria, homocystinuria, megaloblastic anemia and neurologic abnormalities in a vitamin B12-deficient breast-fed infant of a strict vegetarian. N Engl J Med. 1978; 299: 317-323. |
[11] | Sharda B, Bhandari B. Infantile tremor syndrome. Indian Pediatr. 1987; 24: 415-421. |
[12] | Gilliam JN, Cox AJ. Epidermal changes in vitamin B12 deficiency. Arch Dermatol. 1973; 107: 231-6. |
[13] | Aaron S, Kumar S, Vijayan J, Jacob J, Alexander M, Gnanamuthu C. Clinical and laboratory features and response to treatment in patients presenting with vitamin B12 deficiency–related neurological syndromes. Neurol India 2005; 53 (1): 55-8. |
[14] | Demir N, Dogan M, Koc A, et al. Dermatological findings of vitamin B12 deficiency and resolving time of these symptoms. Cutan Ocul Toxicol. 2014; 33: 70-73. |
[15] | Sachdev KK, Manchanda SS, Lal H. The syndrome of tremors, mental regression and anemia in infants and young children. A study of 102 cases. Indian Pediatr. 1965; 2: 239-251. |
[16] | Pohowalla JN, Kaul KK, Bandari NR, Singh SD. Infantile “meningo- encephalitic’’ syndrome. Indian J Pediatr. 1960; 27: 49-54. |
[17] | Kaul KK, Prasan NG, Chowdhary RM. Further observations on the syndrome of tremors in infants. Indian Pediatr. 1964; 1: 219-225. |
[18] | Srikantia SG, Reddy V. Megaloblastic anemia of infancy and vitamin B12. Br J Hematol. 1967; 13: 949-953. |
[19] | Bajpai PC, Misra PK, Tandon PN. Further observations on infantile tremor syndrome. Indian Pediatr. 1968; 5: 297-307. |
[20] | Ramakumar L, Pandove SP. Infantile tremor syndrome. Indian J Pediatr. 1975; 42: 215-225. |
[21] | Baker SJ, Ignatius M, Johnson S, Vaish SK. Hyperpigmentation of skin. A sign of vitamin B12 deficiency. Br Med J. 1963; 1: 1713-1715. |
[22] | Garewal G, Narang A, Das KC. Infantile tremor syndrome: a vitamin B12 deficiency syndrome in infants. J Trop Pediatr. 1988; 34: 174-178. |
[23] | Goraya JS, Kaur S. Infantile tremor syndrome – downbut not out. Indian Pediatr. 2015; 52: 249–250. |
[24] | Rajpoot KS, Poswal L, Goyal S. Assessment of iron, folate and vitamin B12 status in children with infantile tremor syndrome. Int J Contemp Pediatr. 2016; 3: 587–592. |
APA Style
Shivi Nijhawan, Anviti Gupta, Manisha Nijhawan, Divya Yadav, Madhu Mathur. (2021). Progressive Hyperpigmentation in a Child: An Early Marker of Infantile Tremor Syndrome. American Journal of Pediatrics, 7(3), 170-173. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajp.20210703.25
ACS Style
Shivi Nijhawan; Anviti Gupta; Manisha Nijhawan; Divya Yadav; Madhu Mathur. Progressive Hyperpigmentation in a Child: An Early Marker of Infantile Tremor Syndrome. Am. J. Pediatr. 2021, 7(3), 170-173. doi: 10.11648/j.ajp.20210703.25
AMA Style
Shivi Nijhawan, Anviti Gupta, Manisha Nijhawan, Divya Yadav, Madhu Mathur. Progressive Hyperpigmentation in a Child: An Early Marker of Infantile Tremor Syndrome. Am J Pediatr. 2021;7(3):170-173. doi: 10.11648/j.ajp.20210703.25
@article{10.11648/j.ajp.20210703.25, author = {Shivi Nijhawan and Anviti Gupta and Manisha Nijhawan and Divya Yadav and Madhu Mathur}, title = {Progressive Hyperpigmentation in a Child: An Early Marker of Infantile Tremor Syndrome}, journal = {American Journal of Pediatrics}, volume = {7}, number = {3}, pages = {170-173}, doi = {10.11648/j.ajp.20210703.25}, url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajp.20210703.25}, eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajp.20210703.25}, abstract = {Hyperpigmentary disorders are commonly encountered group of dermatoses in the paediatric age group. One of the most common causes of progressive generalised hyperpigmentation in paediatric population is nutritional vitamin B12 deficiency (NVBD). NVBD can present with a bunch of signs and symptoms like skin hyperpigmentation, pallor and regression of neurodevelopment. We report a case of a plump looking 13 months old, girl child from non-consanguineous marriage of low socioeconomic family who presented with generalised hyperpigmentation, failure to thrive and regression of mile stones. Physical examination revealed anaemia and sparse, thin, lustreless hair with dull, apathetic look. A differential diagnosis of Addison’s disease, hypothyroidism, and neurodegenerative disease, was considered based on clinical suspicion. She was further investigated by a paediatrician. Her blood investigations revealed low levels of Vitamin B12 (159 pg/dl) and haemoglobin (2.6 g/dl). On radiological examination, NCCT brain showed cortical atrophy. A final diagnosis of Infantile Tremor Syndrome (ITS) was made. ITS is a rare condition which presents with cutaneous manifestation like hyperpigmentation, scanty scalp hair along with lethargy, apathy along with signs and symptoms of neurodegeneration. Progressive cutaneous hyperpigmentation in a child can present as early marker of a rare neurodegenerative condition like ITS.}, year = {2021} }
TY - JOUR T1 - Progressive Hyperpigmentation in a Child: An Early Marker of Infantile Tremor Syndrome AU - Shivi Nijhawan AU - Anviti Gupta AU - Manisha Nijhawan AU - Divya Yadav AU - Madhu Mathur Y1 - 2021/09/04 PY - 2021 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajp.20210703.25 DO - 10.11648/j.ajp.20210703.25 T2 - American Journal of Pediatrics JF - American Journal of Pediatrics JO - American Journal of Pediatrics SP - 170 EP - 173 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2472-0909 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajp.20210703.25 AB - Hyperpigmentary disorders are commonly encountered group of dermatoses in the paediatric age group. One of the most common causes of progressive generalised hyperpigmentation in paediatric population is nutritional vitamin B12 deficiency (NVBD). NVBD can present with a bunch of signs and symptoms like skin hyperpigmentation, pallor and regression of neurodevelopment. We report a case of a plump looking 13 months old, girl child from non-consanguineous marriage of low socioeconomic family who presented with generalised hyperpigmentation, failure to thrive and regression of mile stones. Physical examination revealed anaemia and sparse, thin, lustreless hair with dull, apathetic look. A differential diagnosis of Addison’s disease, hypothyroidism, and neurodegenerative disease, was considered based on clinical suspicion. She was further investigated by a paediatrician. Her blood investigations revealed low levels of Vitamin B12 (159 pg/dl) and haemoglobin (2.6 g/dl). On radiological examination, NCCT brain showed cortical atrophy. A final diagnosis of Infantile Tremor Syndrome (ITS) was made. ITS is a rare condition which presents with cutaneous manifestation like hyperpigmentation, scanty scalp hair along with lethargy, apathy along with signs and symptoms of neurodegeneration. Progressive cutaneous hyperpigmentation in a child can present as early marker of a rare neurodegenerative condition like ITS. VL - 7 IS - 3 ER -