Question
The baby of my brother’s family is now over three months old. Due to insufficient breast milk, the baby is now drinking formula milk. However, recently, the baby has been experiencing choking while drinking milk, so I would like to inquire why a child would choke on milk?
Answer
Infant choking is closely related to vitamin A deficiency, and supplementing with vitamin A can produce good results. Researchers believe that vitamin A plays a crucial role in maintaining the normal structure and health of skin and mucosal epithelial cells. When infants lack vitamin A, they experience choking because the epithelial cells of the upper pharynx, located in the upper and anterior part of the throat, atrophy and keratinize, leading to inadequate closure of the trachea during swallowing.