Early and severe presentation of vitamin D deficiency and nutritional rickets among hospitalized infants and the effective factors


Tezer H., ŞIKLAR Z., Dallar Y., Dogankoc S.

TURKISH JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS, vol.51, no.2, pp.110-115, 2009 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 51 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2009
  • Journal Name: TURKISH JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.110-115
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Nutritional rickets is re-emerging as a significant health problem among children. We determined the frequency of nutritional rickets and vitamin D deficiency among hospitalized children and the effective factors. During a one-year period, 305 hospitalized children (ages between 0 to 3 years) were evaluated for clinical and biochemical markers of vitamin D deficient rickets and related factors. Twenty-one of them (6.8%) were diagnosed as nutritional vitamin D deficiency and rickets. Most of the children diagnosed were under one year old (16/21, 76.2%). Fourteen vitamin D deficient rachitic children were admitted to the hospital with infectious conditions, and most of them were respiratory tract infection. The rachitic group was compared for statistical significance with the non-rachitic control patients for the data collected. Rachitic children had a lower rate of vitamin D intake. The frequency of malnutrition and anemia and the percentage of covered mothers were higher in the rachitic group than in the control group. Vitamin D deficiency-related rickets is still a common and serious health problem especially in the infancy period. To address this problem, a specific attention should be given to women of reproductive age and in the early infancy period. Initiation of vitamin D supplementation could be offered very early (perhaps after the birth) in children with risk factors.