Question
My colleague has been looking rather unhappy recently. It turned out that his wife has recently given birth to a child with hypomagnesemia. As a result, the whole family is very anxious. How should neonatal hypomagnesemia be handled?
Answer
Upon discovering neonatal hypomagnesemia, it is crucial to start treatment promptly and not to delay, as this may lead to complications. The main symptoms include irritability, tremors, jumps, and staring. With active treatment, recovery is usually rapid. While supplementing magnesium, it is also appropriate to add calcium and potassium. It is important to note that in cases of hypomagnesemia accompanied by low calcium, treatment with calcium supplements and vitamin D is often ineffective and may even lower blood magnesium levels further, worsening symptoms. Therefore, magnesium supplementation should be considered as a priority.